Barbarians

Run, you better, run you know

The End is getting near

Feel the wind of something hard

Come whistling past your ear

As they try to get you

Where it will upset you

Down

Now you know what I mean

Chicago - “Someday”

“What is this place?” Minister Thrassath asked as he looked around the small suite of rooms.

“Safehouse,” Leandra explained, “one of several we have scattered around the Capitol.” She held her hideout gun at her side as she peered out a window. “I don’t think they followed us.”

“Safehouse?” Minister Ω 445 Intersect Γ asked. “What does that mean?”

The Prime Minister took one last look outside, before slipping her weapon back into her robes. “A bolt hole, in case things get bad.” She sighed and sat down. “Back when we first made contact with the Triumvirate, we knew we weren’t beloved by the populace. It seemed like a good idea to have places to hide our people if you suddenly declared them persona non grata.”

Minister Byzaagaab just stared at her. “You mean you’ve had these ‘Safehouses’ in place for over a century?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Doesn’t that seem...well...paranoid?”

“Human paranoia just saved your ass,” Leandra said. “If I hadn’t had my weapon with me, we’d either be rotting in a prison cell awaiting sentencing...or worse.” She gave the ministers a withering look. “Your kind has had it good for so long, you can’t imagine anything else. Even the last war was barely a blip on the radar for you, wasn’t it?” Her companions found it difficult to meet her gaze, as she nodded. “Us humans, on the other hand, know all too well how things can go to hell in a handbasket. Our history is filled with one self-inflicted horror after another, and if we’ve learned nothing else from it, we at least learned how to prepare for the worst.”

An awkward silence filled the room, as the ministers looked at one another. “Our apologies,” Thrassath said at last, speaking for the others. “We did not mean to sound ungrateful. It is just...never in a million years did we ever consider the need for us to flee for our lives.”

“I still do not understand why,” Ω 445 Intersect Γ lamented. “Who were those officers? Why did they try to arrest us? Who sent them?”

“I don’t know who’s behind this, but finding out has top priority at the moment,” Leandra vowed. “As for why...you know as I do the ‘New Order’ has more than its fair share of detractors. I’m willing to bet one of them is behind it.”

“So what do we do now?” Byzaagaab asked. “We can’t just stay here.”

“For now, we can,” the Prime Minister assured her. “There’s food, beds, all the necessities. But you’re right, staying here isn’t a long term solution.” She rose to her feet and pressed a hidden button underneath the countertop. A concealed panel slid away, revealing a monitor and communications console. “First thing we need to do is check in,” she informed them, as she powered up the system.

“Is that safe?” Thrassath asked.

“As safe as we can make it,” Leandra replied. “Shielded and encrypted by some seriously paranoid technicians.” She turned and gave the others a smirk. “They make me look like a naive schoolgirl.”

The ministers stared at each other as they parsed the implications of that statement, as Leandra began to speak. “Control, this is Sheranee, checking in. Verification code Epsilon Delta one niner seven five Xi Sigma Tau.”

There was a pause before a voice came back on the com. “Copy, Sheranee. Stand by for Level 2 Authentication.” There was another pause, and then, “...What is the color of Aslan’s eyes?”

Leandra chuckled, and replied, “Aslan has no eyes, Control.” The ministers drew back in unison from her as she laughed. “Aslan was a stuffed toy I had as a child. The eyes were torn off when I was little, and never replaced.”

The ministers breathed a sigh of relief, as Control responded. “Confirmed, Sheranee. Thank God you’re safe. What’s your status?”

“I’m at the Hilton Hotel, along with Larry, Moe, and Curly,” she answered. “Someone’s goon squad tried dragging us off to the Bastille. They were...discouraged. Requesting extraction and exfiltration.”

“Easier said than done, I’m afraid,” Control replied. “Have you been monitoring the broadcasts?”

“Too busy trying to stay off the radar,” Leandra replied. “What’s happening?”

“Easier if I just show you,” Control answered, as the display came to life.

“...Sectors Three, Nine, Fourteen, and Twenty-One have been sealed and declared off-limits to nonresidents,” the announcer reported, as the others crowded in to view the images. “We are now reporting clashes near the Ministry buildings and other government facilities. We ask all citizens to remain calm during this crisis and to stay indoors. Renewed fighting has broken out in Sectors Eleven and Twelve, and we urge all residents in those blocs to avoid confrontation with Security and the Anarchistic elements responsible for attacks throughout the Capitol. The authorities are subduing and apprehending the individuals responsible for the current state of unrest. To repeat, Sectors Three, Nine, Fourteen, and Twenty-One…”

Leandra turned off the sound, as the message started over. “The authorities?” Ω 445 Intersect Γ asked in shock. “I thought we were the authorities.”

“Not at the moment, it seems,” the Prime Minister said. “Control, do we know who’s behind this?”

“We know who’s claiming responsibility, at least,” the voice replied. “The original Stooges released a joint statement, declaring we forced them by our actions to take back control of the Ministry. They’re alleging the current government is guilty of Treason...and they’re pointing their fingers at Earth.”

“God damn it,” Leandra swore. “The relief task force we sent.”

“Copy that,” Control said. “We’ve received a message from Earth Force...what’s left of it, that is. Matevosian activated the Hindenburg Protocol after they destroyed the shipyards.”

Singh closed her eyes, bowing her head. “...Jesus...” she whispered. “And Fujimoto? Nassat? Have we heard anything from either of them?” she got out.

“Nothing,” Control replied. “It’s possible they’ve gone silent.”

“Sure,” she said, not believing a word of it. “But until then…”

“...until then, we’re defenseless,” Control finished, confirming her worst fears. “Sheranee...what are your orders?”

Leandra could only stare at the display, as the sheer scope of the disaster threatened to drag her down into the abyss. The Tetrarchy was wide open, with nothing to stop the Khonhim onslaught, and unless some miracle was waiting in the wings to save them, it doomed all four of their races.

But then her gaze hardened, as she lifted her head. “My orders?” Leandra repeated. “Until we can stabilize the Capitol, our hands are tied. We must take back the government...by any means necessary.”

“Understood,” Control replied in a quiet voice. “We’ll mobilize what we can.”

“Take no action until I give the word,” she instructed them, “and have Support rig a direct line to the media. Don’t tip our hand until we’re ready.”

“We’re on it,” Control informed her. “Until then...stay put. You’re safer there than anywhere else.”

“Let me know when everything’s in place,” Leandra ordered. “Sheranee out.”

She turned to face the ministers, who looked back in despair. “It’s hopeless, isn’t it?” Byzaagaab whispered in anguish.

“Hopeless?” she sneered. “Let me tell you something, Minister...my people have faced far worse situations than this. We survived then, and we will survive now.” Leandra grimaced, as some of her bravado dissipated. “But I won’t lie to you...there are dangerous times ahead.”

The three ministers looked at each other before Ω 445 Intersect Γ spoke up.

“Then it is fortunate the most dangerous predators in the quadrant are on our side,” he said at last.