131 CHAPTER 130

"This way" Kira whispered.

She crewed to the left, making her rounds through the dark metal tunnel, to the spot where some light was filtering in. So far they had traveled in silence and even though this place looked nothing like Anadan, Matt could not help the feeling that was surging through his stomach. It reminded him of his first training as a Keeper. They had been made to crawl through a tunnel, built with electrocuted wires. The training had been severing that at the end, the inquisitor had barned such training from the camp. His claims were founded on the fact that the world was at peace and that subject the Cadets to such intense training was meaningless. 

Matt licked his lips as they rounded another bend. He could feel the pebbles forcing their way through the sleeve of his cloth and itching his skin, but he cared less at the moment. If the words of Campter, the Inquisitor were true, then why were the Keepers allowed to carry Shocker guns and Candors? Why are there more flame card Keepers in the armory? And why on earth did the general decided to shut him down on the mission the Hiatam? Matt heaved. He had joined the Keepers to help bring justice to the weak. It had not been his dream, but the course of his life had changed the moment Jeff and Ema had died…

He shook off the thought, not wanting them to remain. He had not mourned them. It was difficult to. Even after what he had done to the girl, he loved so much in the world, he still cannot bring himself to let her go. The guilt, perhaps, will haunt him all the days of his life.

"I think this is it." 

Kira's voice seemed to return Matt's wandering thoughts to his body. They had reached the end of the tunnel where some colored lights were pouring in. The place smelled like a lemon fruit that has been packed in a bag and left to decay under a humid temperature. Matt held his nose, hoping that the stench would not choke what life was remaining. Ham on the other hand had a cloth wrapped over his face, shading him from the acrid stench. The frown that still lingered on the side of his face was all the evidence Matt needed to know that the cloth Ham had wrapped around his face was doing little in keeping away the stench. 

"Hold this" Kira said and handed something to Ham, who was much closer to her.   

Matt could not tell what it was she had given Ham. All he wanted at the moment was to get out of this hellish place. The stench was unbearable, and Matt was sure it could kill if adequate care were not taking.

"I will roll the stone over. Try to put that wedge here. This would be our escape plan; in case something goes haywire."

The calmness in Kira's tone made Matt wonder if her nostril were functioning at all. Well, since the Miens were creatures without lungs, maybe they can't smell too. Maybe their lack of lungs made it difficult for them to perceive the surrounding odor. That must be the reason why this place is smelling like this.

���Please, can you be any slower?" Matt grunted, "I feel like I am in a garden of sweet fragrance at the moment."

Kira grunted something which Matt did not hear. He could have, but he wasn't paying attention. The stone had been rolled over, and they were stepping out of the stinking tunnel, to a hallway that was much wider and cleaner than the first.

"Ah, I will not go through that route again," Matt said, rubbing his nose as if that would keep the stench away.

"Then be prepared to face the wrath of Vudga if the plan fails," Kira said. 

Ham dusted his body with those blue eyes of his, studying the new hallway as if something dangerous might pounce on them at any moment. For some odd reasons, he had been quiet since they started out on this mission. And with the look of things, it was as if he would remain quiet until the mission was complete. 

Matt dusted his own body. He still studied Ham from the corner of his eyes. The boy seemed to be perturbed with something, or was it fear? Matt snorted. He had known Ham long enough to tell that the boy was not one to cower with fright unless the years after graduation had beaten his brave features into a docile feeble that can easily be thwarted. It was lovely to see those beautiful blue eyes of Ham again, though. They were far better than the metallic, soulless eyes he had attached as a result of the incident in the school. The atmospheric condition of this place must have a role in completing the damaged parts. Matt was glad they did, and he wished they would remain that way even after they had retired home.

"This way," Kira took the lead, keeping her back to the polished wall as she hurried towards the far end of the hallway.

Matt tightened his knuckles on his gun. The sweet sensation of adrenaline, coursing through his skin, made him smile. This mission of theirs was too familiar to pass unnoticed. He had done something like this all his life. This was how he had been trained to capture the outlaws of society. This was his job, and he was supposed to…

"I should be the one leading this mission." He said, and Kira paused, looking from her shoulders to get a glimpse of his features.

"When did we argue about leadership?" Kira whispered, keeping her voice as low as possible. "If you know your way around the Vudga's palace, then you can be my guess. But If not, I suggest you keep your babbler mouth shut."

Matt could not see what was funny, but she was upset when Ham chucked. The boy was supposed to be on his side. He was supposed to support him. But now, the reverse was just the case.

Pushing a button resting on one of the walls, Kira walked into the room as soon as the door disappeared into the wall.

Matt's jaw dropped when his eyes fell upon the screens that blinked and stretched through the room, as far as his eyes could see. Speaking about computers and machines, Matt thought he had seen them all. But standing here now, his heart skipped. From the floor to the ceiling, stretching to every corner were screens, cylinders, machines, and different insulated tubes of various shapes and sizes. Could have been an animal lab or something, because inside some tubes were some greenish creatures, too small that they could have passed for a tadpole. But unlike tadpoles, these greenish creatures have eyes, hands, feet, and tails. As they dangle from one side of the cylinders to another, Matt could not help the thought of a crocodile in its early stage. Their teeth were long and sparkled in unison with their eyes.

"What are these?" Ham spoke for the first time since they set out. The way his eyebrow elevated to his skull made it obvious, the awe surrounding the place held him too.

"Newbies," Kira continued on without pausing.

She made her way to the far end and Ham followed, hot on her trail.

"Newbies, what does that even mean?" Matt asked, hurrying to catch up with them.

"Miens. The Newbies are Miens that are incubated. Since we rarely have newborns around, our scientists devised a means to keep our species from extinction."

"Hmm, does this sound right to you, Ham," Matt asked, looking at Ham, but he was disappointed when he saw that the other boy was as confused as he was.

"So you can procreate?" Ham asked.

Kira nodded but did not turn to acknowledge either of the two. She continued working on the door, trying to force the little pin through the keyhole.

"Living in Saturn has its own downside. While most of our women have wombs, our men however are sterile."

"Wow," Matt swallowed. Even though the principle seems not to work on humans, he sure was going for a checkup once they get back to Anadan.

"Bingo," Kira exclaimed with joy as the key lock shifted and the red light on the door turned green. "I am the best key picker in the entire land of Vudga."

"You really are, Kira." A different voice said.

"What?" Kira jumped as she turned her eyes to the owner of the voice.

Matt followed her gaze and approaching from behind was Vudga and some of his men. Heavily armed. Xerta was with them too, with Boze, smiling mischievously as though he had won a lottery.

"Well, well, well." Vudga clapped, "Why didn't you call me for the party?"

"Oh, sorry," Matt chuckled, "But the party was meant for genius and not losers."

Kira threw a disturbing look at Matt as if warning him to keep his mouth from making their situation worse.

"You will pay for that," Vudga grunted.

"All of them, my Lord. All of them." Another voice as they walked out from behind.

"Clare?" Kira tried to call, but her voice wavered. She could hardly stand the betrayer.

"I tried to warn you, my dear. But you were too adamant and blinded by your affections for these humans. But now you must pay with your life. The Blaze is meant to die, and so is anyone associated with him."