Dark Allegiance

ONE Jackson slowed the all-terrain vehicle as he surveyed the gates to Harlington. The closed gates. It was just past midday, so the gates should have been open and a team comprising the town’s security guards and wardens waiting to assess those incoming and outgoing. Instead, several guards in the Harlington blue and gold uniforms stood on top of the guard post that ran along the front wall to the left of the gate, staring down at Jackson’s ATV with grim expressions on their faces. Stopping the ATV completely, Jackson turned to Lieutenant Max Carstairs, who sat in the passenger seat, his brow furrowed as he stared at the closed gates. The young warden had never been a freak, so his eyesight wouldn’t be as good as Jackson’s, but he’d still be able to tell the Harlington guards were not happy to see them. ‘I take it this is not normal operating procedure?’ Strong wind buffeted the ATV, though it did little to affect the sturdy vehicle, but outside the dirt swirled across the road, dried grasses and stubbly trees bending in the eddies. Jackson had radioed ahead to let Captain Murphy know they were coming, putting down the non-response to interference from the storm brewing overhead. Now he was thinking the radio silence might be due to another reason. Carstairs’ frown deepened. ‘The town gates are only closed from dusk to dawn, or when there is a potential threat alert. But that’s never happened in the entire time I was stationed here.’ Bandits preyed on some of the smaller communities, but none of them were stupid enough to take on a town of Harlington’s size, one with not only a force of security guards, but a full contingent of wardens as well. Not sure if it would do any good, Jackson grabbed the radio and attempted to get through to the Harlington Ward one more time. The crackle of static was the only response—from the radio at least. A grating noise carried to them over the wind as a crack appeared in the centre of the gates. The gap was not wide enough for a vehicle to drive through, but more than sufficient for three men to slip outside. Jackson studied them as they strode toward the ATV, heads bent against the wind. The one in the middle, in Ward armour, was Captain Murphy. Instead of being flanked by two of his wardens, his escort were members of the Harlington security force. Jackson leaned back to look into the rear of the ATV. ‘Lieutenant Jensen, you and Michaelson remain in the vehicle. Keep your eyes open and be ready.’ Ready for what, he didn’t say as he indicated for Carstairs to exit the ATV. They moved to the front of the vehicle, waiting for the welcoming committee to make their way to them. Jackson kept his eyes slitted against the dust stirred up by the wind. The dark clouds overhead pressed down on him and he felt a few drops of rain. They would need to get the situation sorted before the dark clouds emptied their load right on top of them. When he was one hundred metres away, Captain Murphy waved the men escorting him to a stop and continued forward on his own, mouth down-turned. ‘You shouldn’t have come here, Kyle,’ Murphy said, his voice pitched low. ‘Didn’t you get my message?’ ‘Clearly not.’ Jackson spoke softly as well, aware Murphy would have no trouble hearing him, even over the wind, unlike the Harlington guards. Murphy grimaced. ‘It’s all gone to s**t. Once word of Butcher’s death hit High Command, they went into damage control. Acting-General Stratton has put a freeze on all Ward activities while he and the colonels sort out what went wrong and vote for the next general.’ He pulled his shoulders back. ‘It seems General Butcher’s aide destroyed a lot of his files before anyone thought to stop him. I’ve been recalled to explain my actions and face possible court martial, as has Captain Landry. We leave in the morning.’ Muscles tensing, Jackson narrowed his eyes. ‘I take it your message wasn’t asking for a rescue.’ Murphy snorted. ‘The only way to clear my name, to clear all our names, is to tell the truth.’ He looked over at Carstairs and winced. ‘I’m sorry, Lieutenant. I was unable to keep your name out of the firing line. I have orders to take you in for immediate trial as a deserter. If I see you, that is.’ Carstairs stiffened. ‘Sir?’ ‘You were never here. Either of you.’ Murphy turned his attention back to Jackson. ‘My orders are to take you in as well, hence my message telling you to stay away.’ ‘Even if we had received your message, we still would have come. We have a box of Hannah’s vaccine with us, to cure your freaks. Then we need to take some of their blood, if they’re willing to share.’ With Councillor Dillon out for his head and those of his wardens, Jackson had felt it was more prudent to get what they needed to create more of the vaccine from Harlington rather than Brimfield. They would need to return to Brimfield eventually, to enable them to spread the cure more effectively, but that would come once they had a stockpile of the vaccine. Murphy shook his head. ‘I’m afraid that will be impossible. Even if I were to go against High Command on this, the Harlington Council would never let you step foot in town, let alone get near the freaks. The Over-Council has put out a broadcast with your name on it, demanding your immediate surrender. Failing that, it gives the councils permission to use whatever force is necessary to take you into custody.’ Jackson rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Let me guess, Councillor Dillon is behind this.’ ‘Doesn’t matter who’s behind it. Orders are orders. If the two dolts behind me had a clue who you were, all three of us would be facing a firing squad right now. I told them you were wardens from Alston, here with a private message from High Command, one they couldn’t rely on getting through with the recent spate of storms playing havoc with our communications network.’ It was Jackson’s turn to grimace. ‘You’re risking an awful lot here, Murphy.’ ‘Not as much as I could.’ Face bleak, Murphy heaved out a sigh. ‘What Butcher and Templeton did was wrong, but cleaning this mess up is not going to be an easy task. I know you want to get started on curing the world, but if I were you, I’d lie low for a time. Wait until Landry and I have had a chance to tell the real story to the colonels. When you and your wardens have been cleared of any wrongdoing, then you can see about spreading your cure to the rest of the towns. I only hope I’ll be back here at Harlington by then to see this brand new future of yours firsthand.’ From the bitter twist of his mouth, Murphy didn’t believe he would ever get to see that bright future, and Jackson didn’t blame him. He’d seen how one general could destroy everything he had worked toward. As much as he hoped whomever got voted in as the next general had more foresight, he couldn’t count on it. ‘Good luck,’ Jackson said, holding out his hand. Murphy gripped his hand and gave it a firm shake before turning to Carstairs. This time, he leaned in and clasped the young lieutenant on the shoulder. ‘You have a good head on you. Make sure you keep it there.’ Then he turned around and walked back to his escort. Not stopping to wait for them, he strode toward the gate at a quick pace, making them scramble to keep up. Carstairs turned to Jackson. ‘Now what?’ ‘Guess we get to go to Brimfield sooner than planned.’ His smile was grim as he contemplated the difficulties that lay ahead. With Hannah demanding he find others to share the load of supplying the blood needed to make her vaccine, he didn’t have much of a choice. If all the Wards and towns were locked against them, curing the freaks was not going to be an easy prospect.