Chapter 4 The Wanderer

Meno was sitting at the kitchen table, doing as he was told. He stayed away from the windows, out of the streets. He just waited, in stasis, for Mr. Dimitri to return. He had done this every night since the Pillaer had arrived. It was excruciating.

He thought of the nights before when Mr. Dimitri had gone out to see the guard and had come back disappointed. Meno would try and cheer him up. Miss Hellen had always been good at it. Maybe he would try Dot’s approach. The old hag had always seemed to be able to pull a laugh from the worst situations. She would have them laughing at funerals. Perhaps Mr. Dimitri would not appreciate that coming from him, though. Not now.

Or perhaps, tonight, it would be different. Perhaps the guard, Lawrence, would have been there, and there would have been a plan. Meno’s stomach lurched. If that were the case, then he would need to leave Mr. Dimitri. He shifted in his chair and rubbed his eyes in spiralling discomfort.

He had always dreamed of seeing the galaxy and experiencing all of the wonders that the townspeople had told him about. He had imagined himself flying through the stars on grand ships, stepping onto new worlds, and studying the different cultures, learning about the vast histories.

It had been comforting to him to imagine and dream these things. Now that this was a possibility, he felt terrified. He had used those dreams as an escape, something to take his mind off everything that was happening. Everything had always been so stagnant. He had never actually prepared himself for it. He had never truly believed that it could happen, not to him, not from this cursed place. The people of Gol lived and died in Gol.

The door opened, and Mr. Dimtri walked in, his head hanging,

“Maybe tomorrow”, Meno said, reading the familiar expression, standing to assist the old man to the small kitchen table. The old man sighed, placed his walking stick at the door, scuffled over to the table and took a seat, being guided by Meno. Acting stronger was doing damage to him.

“She was there.” He said, slumping. He looked up at Meno, “It doesn't sound like the message got through. It’s just us.” Meno had never seen Mr. Dimtri so defeated. Meno hadn't anticipated this and felt foolish for only allowing himself to ponder two possibilities. What would Swan or Frederick have said if they had known? Of course, there was a possibility that even with her help and her presence, there was nothing that could be done or nothing that she was willing to do. They were up against an army, after all. Of course, one lonely guard was not going to change their fate.

“Then it’s just us,” Meno said, trying to lift his spirits. “The Pillar hasn't done anything to raise suspicions yet. All we have seen are some supply ships come in. Maybe it’s just getting repaired, for re…” he stopped at the look of the old man. Once again feeling foolish. It was a weak attempt.

“You will steal one of those supply ships, but you will need to…”

“I don't know how to fly a ship, old man,” scoffed Meno.

“Sneak aboard and hide, or steal the ship, and I will tell you how to fly it,” he said with some desperation. “We need to do something.” He shook his head, staring down at the table. “There is nothing else on this moon, no towns, no villages, it’s just us,” he added, looking exhausted. “And that Pillar. The guards didn't even have a way off this planet. I was hoping to sneak you aboard one of their resupply ships at some point, but I thought we had more time. We need to use one of those freighters, and we need to do it soon.”

“I don't need to go, I can stay here with…” Meno stopped. Something outside the window caught his attention. He didn't understand it at first. His heart skipped. He stumbled back, dumbfounded. It was a man’s face. A man who wasn't wearing a mask.

He was peering through their window. Mr. Dimitri turned, but the man had gone. Then came a knock on the door. Meno sat frozen. He was in complete disbelief. Did a man wander into the village, not knowing, not aware? Another knock. Mr. Dimitri’s face hardened, and he got up from his chair, grabbing his walking stick and readied himself.

“Hey, I know you saw me. I got your message,” said a cheerful voice. Mr. Dimtri hesitated, then opened the door. Standing there was a tall man, smiling. His grin widened at the reaction he got from the inhabitants of the home.

“You…got my…”

“Yep,” he responded quickly. “Can I come in? It’s a bit chilly”

Meno collapsed into his chair as the man stepped into the room, still smiling, his eyes eagerly flicking around. He didn’t know about the disease. No one, not once in Meno’s entire life, had ever entered the camp without a full exo-suit. This was the first new face Meno had ever seen. He had never seen clothing like that before. He was wearing a thin jacket over a clean white shirt with a round collar. His shoes covered only half his feet. His dusty blonde hair didn't look like anyone from the village. He was strong, and his skin was tanned, something that he had only ever heard of. Tattoos moved up the left side of his neck and down to his chest. A mess of straight lines that crisscrossed with the occasional twirl and bend, like a language written and rewritten over itself again and again..

“Town’s a bit shit isn't it?” He said, glancing around the room, his eyes widened as he spotted the kettle. He picked up. “Tea?” He asked, swinging it in the air. “Tea will get us started.”

“Who are you?” The words tumbled out of Meno’s mouth before he could stop them.

Mr. Dimtri had slumped back into his chair, just staring at the man.

“My name is Worrec,” he said, though he seemed uncertain of it for a moment, which only added to the strangeness as he gave Mr. Dimitri a wink. “Tea?”

“You’ve killed yourself,” Meno said, still in a haze. “You’ve been exposed.”

“Yeah, don’t worry about that”, Worrec replied, holding the kettle up again, then, realising that nobody was paying attention to it, he threw it over his shoulder with a loud clang. He took a seat, glancing at both of them.

“Okay…” he started, seeming to realise that he needed to explain himself. “I’m here to get you out of here, little man. We received a message some time ago from Captain Lawrence. A distress call really. We didn't want to respond, too risky, you know. We were waiting for the right time to come and get you, but some shit happened and now we need to get you out of here tonight.” He said, all too casually. Meno seemed to blink himself back into reality.

“That…that doesn't explain anything. Why did you come in here without an exosuit? Don’t you know about the…Who in the hell are you? Mr. Dimitri...” Meno turned, trying to get some input from the old man, who was dumbstruck by the man. Worrec looked at Meno up and down as though scanning him, as though he was trying to make sense of him.

“Listen to him, Meno,” Mr. Dimitri said, after seeming to pull himself together. He bowed his head. “Thank you for coming,” Worrec just smiled. “You can get him out tonight?” Mr. Dimitri asked.

“Yeah, we need to,” Worrec said, again far too casually. “The Dorlec are wrapping things up here. They have already killed all of the guards at the outpost, and they are going to be coming into town in the next few hours to come and get him and burn this place to the ground.”

“Lawrence is dead?”

“Oh no, sorry, she’s been arrested. They think that she is part of a conspiracy to get the boy out and that she is assisting the Hulfean forces and blah, blah, blah. They don’t know how right and wrong they are, but it will also be a bit of a surprise to her, I would imagine”

Meno shook his head, struggling to wrap his mind around it all. It was too much. too fast. He still didn’t know who this man really was. He didn’t understand how he could be so calm in the fog, so casual about everything happening around them. Meno wasn't prepared for what he was saying. They wanted to move him. tonight.

“How are you getting him out?”

“I have an exo-suit outside, which I took from one of the guards who died at the barracks. It has some holes in it, but it’s fine. It won’t need to be pressurised, and he’s immune to the disease, which is an absolute bonus.”

“Okay, and then he is going on one of the ships?”

“Our original plan had a pilot placed on the moon who was going to allow him to sneak on board. With everything happening, we needed to alter that plan a bit. I managed to move some things around. Your pilot will be flying the prison transport that Captain Lawrence will be taking shortly. So all working out pretty nicely if you ask me,” he said, looking very pleased with himself.

Neither of them was speaking to Meno at all now.

“So, Lawrence will be okay?”

“It’s the luckiest day of her life. The ship was meant to be taking her to the internment camp," Worrec said, holding a hand to the side of his mouth. "She would have spent the rest of her life being interrogated about that message, so, yeah, lucky. That ship is now going to be commandeered, she will be safe” Mr. Dimitri looked happier than Meno had ever seen him, the old soldier beamed at Meno from across the table.

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“Did you hear that, Meno? You are going to be safe.” He said, almost jumping in his chair.

“How do you know all of this?” asked Meno, feeling it all too good to be true. “You changed the flight manifests? How did you know that the Captain had been arrested? How do you know that they are coming in the morning?” Meno fired off the most pressing questions he had. They weren’t all the questions he wanted to ask, but they were the ones that couldn’t wait. He needed some answers. Worrec looked at him for a moment, leaned forward and then, with an expression of utter pride, said

“Pretty fucking amazing, right?”

“We can’t trust this guy, Mr. Dimitri. None of what he is saying makes sense. How is he here without a mask? How did he even get on the moon? He’s been sent to separate us! For all we know, he killed the guards in the outpost and the Captain”

“We need to trust him, Meno. You must do this,” said Mr. Dimintri calmly. Worrec started nodding.

“Who is he?” Meno asked the old soldier. Mr. Dimitri looked as though he was deciding what to say when Worrec interjected.

“I’m the one getting you out of this shithole, no offense,” Worrec said with a grin. “And we need to start moving.” He stood and walked to the door. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he added, glancing at Mr. Dimitri. “Say your goodbyes.”

He opened the door and stepped outside, dragging the exo-suit that he’d mentioned into the room, flashed his eyes at Meno and then left to stand in the street.

Meno just stared at his old mentor, whose eyes were welling up. It was the most emotion Meno had ever seen on the man’s face.

“I don’t want to leave you”, Meno said, feeling the silence in the old, creaking wooden room.

“You have to,” Mr Dimtri said softly. “You have a chance here, you must take it. Do this for me, for all of us on Gol. This was our greatest wish, and it has come true. Please, Meno, do this for us all”. A lump rose in Meno’s throat. He had never received a personal request from the old soldier.

“What about you?” Meno asked.

“I’m going to be waiting for them when they arrive. I will show them that Lor Dimitri is a man who should not be taken lightly.”

There was a knock on the door, telling them to hurry.

“I don’t like this”

“Don’t take anything, just go with him,” Mr Dimtri said. “Do not feel sad leaving this place. Remember what Hellen always taught you. Celebrate the past. Do not regret leaving, and do not for a moment feel guilty, for you have no reason to be. You have given us all you have, and you deserve this,” He began to rise, and Meno, feeling his limbs once more, stood and joined him.

“Go out there and be the man that I know you are, a good man,” Mr. Dimitri said, his hands resting on Meno’s shoulders. The lump in Meno’s throat swelled painfully. He had always been tough when it came to his emotions, never wanting the others to see him cry or be down when they lost one of their own. But this was different.

“Listen to what he tells you to do and take care of yourself, Meno”, Mr. Dimitri said, his voice cracking. Meno was trying his hardest not to cry. He just looked up into his old mentor's eyes, knowing that this may have been the last time that he would have the chance to do so. He swallowed and steadied himself.

“I love you, Mr. Dimitri.”

The old man pulled him into a hug, and he felt him shudder. Meno was glad that he didn't see him cry. It was the first time that he had embraced the old man, and he felt the emaciated frame and the way he slumped slightly as Meno returned the hug.

“I love you, too, my boy.”

Mr. Dimtri released him from the embrace, quickly turning away. Meno knew that the old man didn't want to show his tears. He picked up the exo-suit and held it up for him to put on. Meno didn't argue.

Meno put on the suit, and it tightened and adjusted to his body. Only the armoured plates were unable to shift in size, but rather moved into the correct positions on his shoulders, chest and back. Mr. Dimitri stood by, his gaze attentive as Meno donned the suit.

“Make sure it’s tight,” the old soldier instructed. “You should feel pressure on the back of your head from the helmet.” Meno followed the advice, feeling the familiar weight of the suit settle around him. Mr. Dimitri’s eyes never left him, his expression strange. It was a mix of pride and sadness.

Once fully suited, Meno removed the helmet, just as Worrec said,

“Time to go,” came the voice from the doorway. Meno hadn’t even heard him enter.

Meno looked at Mr Dimtri once more as he reached out to him for the last time. Meno held him tight, knowing that he couldn't be there in Mr. Dimitri's final moments, that the old man would be completely alone. There were no more tears from the old soldier when they were released. He gave Meno a stern nod, which he returned in kind.

“Tell Angie I…Thank her for me.” Mr Dimitri said heavily.

Meno didn't say anything, afraid that a word might open a gate that he would not be able to close.

“I’ll take him up, and then we can have that last stand”, Worrec said, nodding to Mr. Dimitri, who smiled wistfully.

“Thank you, Mr. Dimitri”, Meno whispered as he left the room, knowing that he would regret it if he didn't. This time, Meno did see a tear form in his eye but turned before it could fall. He felt hollow.

Worrec clapped him on the back as they made their way into the street.

“I never know what to say in those situations, you know?” Worrec said, fiddling with something in his jacket. Meno was glad that there was darkness around him now. He felt that if he were under bright light, he would feel exposed. He suspected Worrec knew this. He handed something to Meno on a string, but made sure that he didn't look at Meno when he looked up at him. He was rather awkward in this situation, too.

“What is this?” Meno asked, inspecting the small coin. It was a brown coin with some indistinct writing on it. It had a hole punched in the top and a leather necklace that held it.

“Access. Now, about where you are going,” Worrec began, “The pilot has the entry codes to get on planet, but she doesn’t know which planet yet, because I’m very clever. That’s where you come in. Don't hand it over too soon, or she may dump you before taking off. She is a bit intense, but I think she’s okay. Very clever,” he added, almost distractedly, as he fiddled with something in his fingers. They were nearing the forest now. “Look that way,” he said, pointing. Meno turned, and just as he did, he felt a sharp pinch behind his ear.

“What? Why would you do that?” Meno asked, touching the spot.

“That’s comms tech. It has some other cool features, it’s the latest model, I think. While on the ship, run through how to work it. I’m not good with that kind of stuff. It should kick in in a few moments.” Meno kept rubbing the spot where the tech had been inserted into his skin. His eyes flickered to Worrec, who was still acting far too casual about the whole situation, walking as though they were simply taking a stroll.

“Why me?”

Worrec looked at him again in that strange way as though trying to understand him.

“Why not you?” He said, clearly trying to deflect.

“This is clearly a very risky thing to do. Why would I be worth that risk? Even if it is a favour to Mr. Dimitri.”

“That’s the first time that I ever met Mr. Dimitri.” Worrec said. “Anyways, shouldn't you just be grateful that it is happening? Don’t worry about the why or how, or who the dashing, remarkably talented man in front of you is,” he added with a wink.

Meno stared at him incredulously, but before he could respond, his vision suddenly changed. Symbols began to float around in his vision. The trees came into view far more clearly. He could see his heart rate and temperature and other stats and figures in his periphery, nothing blocking his vision at all. He stopped and rubbed his eyes.

“Kick in, did it? Worrec asked, a little amusement in his voice. Yeah, it takes some getting used to. Stop fussing.” Meno kept rubbing his eyes. “It’s the tech. It’s going to help you. I’ve plotted the path that you need to take to the freighter on there.”

“It’s strange,” Meno said, blinking furiously. It felt wrong, foreign.

“Here we are,” Worrec said, stopping in the forest. “Now, you are going to go ahead, and I’ll head back to the house. Now, it’s important that you remember this”

“You are staying?” Meno interjected.

“Yeah, I’ve been exposed to the disease, kid,” He replied as though Meno was an idiot.

“You said it would be fine?”

“Yeah, because I’m not leaving. I don’t get why this is so complicated.” Meno turned his head in irritation. This man was infuriating, but at the same time, he couldn't understand why this man would give up his life just to get him out. He was a nobody, a kid, on a dead moon.

“Why are you helping me? You are effectively dying for me. This doesn't make any sense,” Meno said, looking at him sternly. Worrec seemed to give up.

“Firstly, I’m a bit more complicated than that. Secondly, you dont think it’s strange that a disease that kills everyone and everything it touches doesn't affect you at all? That in a place where even the air is toxic, you are in perfect health. Yeah, it’s weird, man”.

For the first time, Meno thought that he may actually be speaking the truth. “Also, it’s not all going to be sunshine and rainbows. You have piqued our interest. We have plans for you, kid, and you’re not going to like all of them. Now...” he continued, “This is important. When you get to the transport, hang out in the trees for a bit. The scanners won’t pick you up. The tech is helping with that. When you see them bringing the Captain to the ship, make your move. You are going to need to take the soldiers out, so wait until they are in the ship. The pilot should help, but don’t count on it. She’s a bit prickly, like I said. When you meet the pilot, tell her that you need to go to Yeley, Yeley,” he said, mouthing the word out again. “Don’t tell her this until you get into orbit. The whole 'she may kick you off the ship' thing is no joke. She’s also on the run, so tensions are pretty high. Don’t let the soldier hurt her, or you’re fucked.” Worrec rattled off in such quick succession that Meno could barely keep up.

“Okay,” Meno said, hoping that he had all of the details. “And this?” he asked, holding the coin up.

“There is a man on Yeley…Yeley,” he said, emphasising the word again. Meno was really struggling with this guy. “Named Harold, he will see your entry codes when you make planetfall and will meet you at the port. Give him the coin. You can trust him”

“Coming from a man that I don't trust”

“Ouch,” Worrec said, holding his heart and feigning hurt. “Wait on Yeley until we reach out to you again. Harold will have some work for you, but your first test is getting off this rock. Don’t cock it up,” he added pointing a finger at Meno. “That’s the last ship out of here that doesn't include a body bag.” He straightened up, looking down at Meno. “You good?”

Meno nodded, but as he looked up at the taller man, he knew there was something he needed to ask.

“Let him fight,” He said as a final request. He knew that Mr. Dimitri would like nothing more than to go out with a bang. It would be the glorious end to a soldier's life that he never thought he would have had a chance at. Worrec smiled.

“Oh, we’re going to do some damage,” he said with a grin. “Now, skedaddle, I’ve got shit to do.”

Meno started to walk off and then glanced back at Worrec. “Thank you for this.”

The man just smiled at him, then turned and walked into the forest, back to the small town of Gol. Meno had never had so many questions floating around his head as he did right then. He had no answers. He didn't know who this man was, but what he did know was that for some inexplicable reason, he knew he could trust him. He felt so confused as to why.

He suddenly realised that he was standing in the forests of Gol, in an exo-suit, with a coin in his hand, completely alone.