Chapter 24
The university grounds were the most graffitied area of the city. The work crews initially raced to remove the words after Callen spoke, but now, weeks later, with the dissent only increasing, they’d given up removing the scrawl and were just letting it be. The authorities hoped the contempt shown was a passing epidemic that would cease once they discredited Callen; this had yet to happen, but the large floating screen in the central quadrangle was now reporting what seemed to be his final chapter.
Every student stood, crowded below the news screen. They’d heard the breaking story. An impromptu protest began. A chant broke out; they lie drowning out the coiffed anchor as she strutted around her holographic displays and modelled her designer clothes on the large screen. Some of the students stood in tears. Jenny was one of them, joined by Simone and Jay who stood stoic, trying to lend support. Callen climbed to the second level mezzanine and surveyed the crowd. He searched, unnoticed from under his pulled down cap. It took him a few minutes to spot his friends. He set off running towards them. He pushed, weaved and skipped his way through the large crowd. He could see his friends up ahead, but the unusually large crowd made getting to them impossible.
The crowd swelled and tightened, sweeping Callen along, locked amongst them. Had he wished to get away at that moment he couldn’t. Behind him, Ky was experiencing the same restricting crush. Finally, the crowd came to a halt as the chanting died down so people could hear what the news was reporting. Loud shushes travelled amongst the students like a wave. Relative quiet came as they stood as one, staring at the main viewing screen.
“Still unconfirmed, but our report is from a reliable source within the government that Callen Helfner is dead. I repeat, Callen Helfner the young man at the centre of the recent Outlocked hoax, confirmed dead.”
The students groaned in disappointment and grief for their fallen hero. More shushes came as the anchor continued.
“According to reports, a corrections pod he was travelling in was involved in an accident allowing his escape. We have no details about who else was with him at the time. His partner in the hoax, Eve, herself claiming to be an Outlocked, a claim later proved false, may also have been in the transporter at the time of the accident, although this is just speculation at this time. I can tell you we have a report she was with Callen at the time of his death, but again, not confirmed.” The anchor paused and turned into a statue as her male co-anchor suddenly came to life.
“So what do we know? The accident did not kill Callen or those with him, but there are reports he tried to leave the city and even rumours he succeeded and only then lost his life when attacked by Outlocked. These are the same Outlocked Callen claimed befriended him.”
The male anchor editorialised this point with a look and tone that made it clear he felt Callen’s claims were finally proven false beyond all doubt, and like a well-rehearsed relay team exchanging a baton, his partner bounced back to life.
“This is an extraordinary story, and it’s still coming to us, as we said breaking news. When we know more, we’ll have it for you.” As the shot pulled back to show both newsreaders, the male anchor took over. He tapped a personal viewer in front of him to give the impression he was more than a talking head. He looked sincere as he focused down the lens.
“After the break, first-hand accounts from those witnessing the final chapter in the ‘Helfner Hoax’. If it’s news, if it’s breaking, you’ll see it here first.”
The viewer flashed to an image of a woman with perfect hair and perfect teeth; her beauty secret, pro-elastin mannitols.
The crowd erupted in an uncomfortable crush. Some began to leave in utter despair and disappointment. Editorialising on the reports had already begun and the sharpest young minds within the city, the same minds who had witnessed the story’s beginning, were now hypothesising its end. It wasn’t what they’d hoped. The mood was heavy and full of grief, although few seemed surprised by the outcome. The cabled news would drone on for hours and possibly even days. The sketchy reports would continue to unfold and grow, as only big news stories could. Most students had heard enough, but the disdain towards watching anymore gave Callen the room he needed to move towards his friends.
Jenny collapsed to her knees in the suddenly open space of synthetic grass. Jay, Simone and their other friends knelt to her, trying their best to console her, and each other over the news. Callen walked right to them with his cap pulled down and a hand scratching his face to make sure he’d go unrecognised. Ky followed close behind. Callen pushed to the middle of the group drawing protests from some on the fringe, but he ignored them, crouching down to get to Jenny. Jenny looked at him, annoyed at the intrusion on her grief. Callen lowered his hand from his face and raised his cap. He watched Jenny’s face go white with shock and her eyes filled with brightness as she leapt forward and hugged him tight around his neck. Callen couldn’t help but laugh as he stood, bringing them both to their feet.
“Why does everyone keep listening to these people?” he said with Jenny hanging off him. He was enjoying his moment of immortality. The whole group came to life celebrating their friend. Some nearby heard his name called and came to investigate, shocked to see the man himself front and centre. The news spread quickly, and before he had time to give any explanation a chanting crowd had him hoisted onto a bench and were waving fists as they cried in unison, they lie, they lie. Callen put his arms up to quiet the crowd. He was sure he only had a moment before authorities swooped.
“You know what I’ve been telling you? Whatever they tell you about me, whatever they tell you about your lives, don’t listen and don’t settle. You’re the only ones who have the right to make those choices. If they tell you to do something – question why, because they lie!”
The crowd cheered, and the chant began again, this time with Callen leading and waving his fist defiantly in the air.
“They lie, they lie, they lie.” The chant continued and grew in volume. Callen never saw Professor Klim desperately trying to make his way to the centre of the crowd.
“Callen! Callen!” he screamed. “They’re coming!”
Callen saw him frantically waving his arms from within the crowd.
“They can’t stop it now,” Callen yelled at him.
“They’re coming! I can get you out, but you have to come now, or it’s over,” Klim bellowed across the chant. Jenny grabbed at Callen’s legs, almost knocking him from the bench.
“Go! You’ve done enough!” she implored. Callen looked to the sea of students one last time and raised his fist.
“They lie! They lie! They lie!” he screamed, then, with Ky at his side, he followed Klim as the chanting crowd parted to let them through. They made their way to the private transporter park on the university grounds. Every Professor was entitled to a private transporter, a perk of such a respected position. Each colourful plastic pod was identical in design. Klim raced to his assigned pod and passed a key over the door lock. All four doors jumped as their seals released. Inside the magnetic pulse engaged and they were away.
“You’re Outlocked?” Klim asked of Ky, as he clicked the controls to manual and threaded his way through slower traffic. Ky nodded.
“Me too,” Klim revealed. He increased his speed along the magnet line; the only sound came from the rushing wind. Ky and Callen stared at him with confusion.
“When I was young and stupid I got myself in trouble; twenty-five years non-parole, worth of trouble. I was sentenced to teach lifestyle and philosophies,” Klim explained.
“Outlocked get sentenced to the city?” Ky asked in disbelief.
“As teachers or public servants,” Klim elaborated. “So whatever you do out there, don’t muck up.” Klim leaned out the window of his transporter.
“Get out of the way, idiot!” he screamed at an elderly driver ahead of him. “I got a call about your accident; a friend of mine, she’s in town planning and a higher clearance than me. She saw it on screen. I don’t know how long we’
ve got before they get to us.” Klim swerved and flipped the finger out his window as he passed a multi-transporter.
“Think they own the road,” he chastised under his breath at the large vehicle pulling out in front of him with little regard.
“Are you coming with us?” Ky asked as he studied the Professor intently from the back seat.
“They won’t let me. I lost that privilege a long time ago,” Klim admitted. “I can never go home.”
Klim illegally parked across the footpath outside Northwall Station. All three got out and headed to the entrance. Klim raised his arm ready to cross his crystal across the entry point, but Ky beat him to it with a crystal of his own. Ky swiped across the scanner. The red light flicked to green, and both passed.
“We’re fine from here,” Ky said to a stunned Klim from the other side of the gates. Callen issued a simple ‘Thank you’ to the Professor as he ran off, and before Klim could utter another word, Callen and Ky disappeared down into the station.
Callen couldn’t help his excitement at having come this far. His mind was thinking of Eve and freedom; both seemed so close. On reaching the lower platform he hardly bothered checking those standing in wait for the next carriage. He certainly didn’t care about attracting attention from any of the holographic guards. Ky kept close as they sailed over the side of the platform and down onto the tracks. A guard snapped into view and yelled at them in vain. Receiving no response he sounded an amplified alarm, but nothing would slow Callen.
Along the composite plastic tracks, Callen and Ky ran. Only one carriage bothered them. Callen didn’t even wait for it to clear before he straightened and headed for the stairway. Ky tracked him every step, and their pace beat a steady rhythm as the echo increased their numbers. At the doorway, Callen clambered down the steps of the ladder to the rough surface below. As Ky touched down, Callen turned and grabbed him, wrapping him up in a vice-like hug.
“We did it!” he yelled, without releasing his hold. “I thought you were setting me up. Just being paranoid,” he added. Callen pulled away with delight on his face. In the darkness of the tunnel, it was impossible for him to see Ky didn’t share his joy. Ky wore a cold expression; one of commitment; one of a job yet to be completed. Callen began a slow jog that increased in speed as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Thoughts of Eve began to occupy his mind. He wondered if Ky had heard anything about her return. Ky hadn’t. He’d been told of her release back to the Outlocked lands in case the information could assist him, but the only other details he had were those he’d heard from Callen. As they continued, the loose rocks and gravel being disturbed by their feet were the only sound. Ky stopped suddenly and looked behind. He was sure he’d heard someone coming, the same crunching of gravel underfoot.
“Someone’s following us,” he called out in warning. Callen stopped and listened. There was silence.
“It’s an echo. The first time I came down here, I heard it too,” Callen reassured. They began to move again. Ky kept an ear out for those following footsteps, but all he heard was the sound of their own feet.
The tunnel twisted more than once, but it was when it began to descend Callen knew they were close to the cave’s entrance. His pace quickened when he saw it ahead, and he entered without slowing. By the time Ky joined him, Callen was already on his knees removing the few remaining rocks to the smaller tunnel’s entrance. For a moment Ky stood and watched. All Callen was thinking was his return to Eve. Ky slowly drew the primitive bone knife and held it firmly in his hand, mentally preparing himself to end Callen’s life.
“Callen!” cried a voice from the door. It was Klim, and his timing was impeccable. It gave Callen just enough warning to turn around and spot the primitive bone dagger coming at him. Callen thrust his hand up instinctively and knocked Ky’s arm, swiping the downward thrust of the blade to one side. He lurched at Ky and grabbed his wrist. The two began to struggle. The dagger was held high in front of Callen’s face, as Ky tried to bring it down in a fatal blow. Klim came from behind and locked an arm around Ky. It helped Callen gain the upper hand. He twisted Ky’s arm with a wrenching strain on the elbow. Ky dropped the knife to the dusty floor.
“What are you doing?!” Callen screamed. Ky didn’t answer; instead, he lifted a foot and kicked Klim’s shin. Klim lost his hold and stumbled back. Ky was free. He lunged at Callen again, grabbing him and pushing him back with all his strength. Callen took a similar hold on Ky and resisted. They were like a carriage being shunted back and forth as they moved about the room. The balance shifted as Klim re-joined the fight. Picking up a plastic crate he tried to get a clear shot to slam into Ky’s head. Ky spotted him and ducked out of the way at the last moment.
“You’re next!” Ky screamed at Klim, as he gained the upper hand and shunted Callen into an odd assortment of pots and pans lined up on the dusty shelves. The mix of plastic paraphernalia clattered to the ground, some breaking, some bouncing, but all landing under foot.
“He’s with them!” Klim yelled, “He’s helping the City!”
Callen wrestled himself out of the corner of the cave.
“He used a crystal to get into the station!” Klim added. “How does he have a working crystal if he’s not helping them?”
Callen didn’t need any convincing. Ky’s attack was proof enough.
“Grab him!” he yelled at Klim. Klim was trying, but he had little opportunity.
“Why?” Callen screamed into Ky’s face as they danced their aggressive dance across the floor.
“We’re at war!” Ky wheezed, close to exhaustion. Callen pushed as hard as he could, causing Ky to overbalance, sending him backwards across the room like a battering ram. They both came to rest with a thud against the far wall.
“It doesn’t have to be!” Callen roared as he pushed Ky again. Ky’s foot repositioned, landing on a fallen plastic pot and causing him to stumble, this time sending him careering into the old makeshift bed. The bed had grown weary over the years from giving others rest. The plastic frame and rag top covers concertinaed, as the two warriors ploughed into it. The base of brittle plastic snapped, tripping Callen and Ky. Callen came down hard on top of Ky, who landed square across a newly formed plastic shard. Ky arched in pain as his spine took the lethal spear. The battle ended. Ky lay in shock, the pain inside him overpowering. He could no longer feel his legs.
“Go!” Klim screamed at Callen who was lying atop Ky, dripping sweat and fighting for breath. Klim feared Ky was only winded. Callen knew better. He could see the utter bewilderment in Ky’s eyes as he lay, skewered and gasping in pain. When Callen rose off him, he could see the jagged edge of plastic sticking up through Ky’s chest.
“What do they get if you kill me?” Callen asked quietly. Ky didn’t answer. His head lurched as his neck spasmed and a bubble of blood spilt from his lips. Ky’s eyes glazed over. He seemed to focus on a far away point then went still, the gurgling blood oozed from his lips and stilled. His eyes went vacant, open, but seeing nothing.
Klim sensed the tragedy and moved Ky’s clothing to find a sea of blood spreading down his torso. The sharp plastic dagger from the broken base of the bed had pierced Ky’s back and impaled him. Ky would never get the chance to answer Callen’s question. A frozen Callen looked to Professor Klim with a pained, sorrowful expression.
“I’ve killed him.”
“You have to go. If they catch you, they’ll find a way to spin it. All the questions you’ve got people asking, they’ll be done. If you escape, they’ll never stop what you started.”
Callen nodded. He knew Klim was right. He had to finish what he’d started by escaping. He looked back to Ky one last time. He lay still, lost to both worlds. This cave had few memories Callen wished to keep.
“They gave him a crystal, so they’ll be coming.” Klim urged, snapping Callen out of his remorseful daze. Callen came to Klim and extended a hand.
“Thank-you.”
“Good luck.”
It was a simple exchange, bu
t a poignant one. Callen turned to the small tunnel that led to sunlight and crouched down to journey through the porthole to his new world. This time, emerging on the other side would mark the beginning of his third new life.