Plague of Mybyncia (23 page)

“We’ll need another bed for Tucker,” Reid
scans the space, “and one for the chancellor.”

“Is he alright?” Queen Ravan asks.

“He’ll be fine,” Reid nods, “but the crowd’s
demanding answers now. He’ll need rest and some Dilly first.”

“Then I will address them,” she rises to a
stand, her hand out to Sampson, “Fychu, would you mind escorting
me?”

“Of course, your Majesty,” Sampson takes
Queen Ravan by her arm and leads her to the door. On their way out,
they pass Clarence and Booker who are carrying the chancellor and
Tucker, Jace trailing behind with a slight limp.

“Chancellor Keller,” the queen gasps at the
sight of him.

“M-Majesty…” he attempts to free himself of
Booker’s hold, as though wanting to stand up and bow.

“Please do not…” she lingers a moment longer,
her saddened eyes pouring over him as an aching need to console
appears. But she swallows it, resuming her regal impassiveness. “We
shall speak when I return,” she nods to Sampson and the two
continue out.

“Be careful with that crowd,” Jace warns as
the solid coral door closes behind him. Favoring his uninjured leg,
he makes his way in the room, taking off his helmet. “Nearly took
me out.”

“Yeah, well, they nearly took Fallon out,”
Reid’s pacing, arms crossed as he motions Clarence and Booker to a
few of the open beds near the princesses. Ariana struggles to sit
up, her face a light ashy gray and her cheeks just starting to sink
in.

“Princess…” Clarence whispers to himself,
placing an unconscious Tucker in a coral bed next to her. “How are
you feeling?”

“Okay…” she watches as Booker places the
chancellor in the bed opposite Sansa.

“Princess…” he exhales, holding his hand out,
“princess… so sorry…”

“You need to rest, Chancellor,” Clarence
stands over him. “We’ll bring you some Dilly but you need to
rest
,” he crosses towards Ariana. “You too, princess.”

“How is…” she exhales, “…Fallon? How are…” a
large gulp, “… the others?”

“We’re fine,” I push myself up, though my
entire body is aching to stay still. “A little beat up… but
okay.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Reid paces the room.
“You were nearly trampled.”

“I saw…” Jace hobbles over. He takes a seat
nearby, on the edge of the large, central bed and holds his leg.
“Got tripped myself. Once they saw Booker leaving with the
chancellor, they about swarmed me trying to get to him,” he rubs
his leg again. “Almost didn’t make it back.”

“Oh no…” Ariana exhales deeply. “So…” another
gulp, “so sorry….”

“We need to do something quick,” Reid grates.
“So everyone can calm the
fuck
down out there,” he walks the
room, throwing his arms out, gesturing to me and Jace. “We brought
them the chancellor and they about killed Fallon. Jace wasn’t
limping half as bad before.”

“Speaking of,” Clarence turns to him, “need
me to take a look?”

Jace puts his hand up, declining. “I’m
good.”

“But you’re right,” Clarence agrees with a
look to Reid. “Things
do
need to calm down. But we have to
wait for the queen and Sampson to return. Once they get back… we’ll
sort this thing out,” he steps towards Reid, “but no one will be in
any danger here. I
promise
.”

Pratt and Mae fly through the door at his
comment, bowls overflowing with Dilly in their hands. With a quick
scan of the room they find Ariana, Sansa and the chancellor in the
corner, darting over without really seeing the rest of us. Both
pause at his bedside, Mae dipping into the bowl to fish out the
long green mush.

“Here,” she starts feeding him. “Pratt, help
the princesses.”

“Here, Ariana,” she kneels beside her, “um… I
mean,
Princess
Ariana. Brought you some Dilly,” she starts
spooning the noodle-like mush into Ariana’s darkened mouth before
assisting Sansa. By the time both princesses and the chancellor
have been fed, Queen Ravan and Sampson return.

“I have addressed them,” the queen advises, a
solemn expression exuding. “They should be calm for awhile, but it
will not last. My people understand the direness of the situation
so they will only remain compliant for so long. We need to do
something. We need…” she exhales heavily, this next part difficult
to stay. “We need your help.”

Sampson smiles, “Then let’s put a plan
together, shall we?”.

“A plan is good,” Jace nods, rubbing his leg
again, “but—uh—can we strategize in here, though?”

“It’s better than out there,” Clarence
crosses the room.

“Who’s
watching
out there?” I glance
to the coral door at the other end of the small bunker. With the
queen, the Fychu and the chancellor all bundled together in here,
it could be utter chaos out there, even if they’ve already had a
visit from their highness. But she said it herself—their restraint
won’t last long. I gulp, nervous at the answer. “Who’s keeping
order?”

“Right now Varille and Qippert are attending
to them,” Queen Ravan sits on the central bed, folding her hands on
her lap. “I suspect it should be more reasonable for a while.”

As soon as she says this, Werzo pushes
through the door, scanning the room with a scowl. “Who forgot to
invite me? And just thought you should know,” he motions back over
his shoulder, “they’re starting to get rough with the
administrators.”

“What do you mean
rough
?” Sampson
asks.

“
Rough
. Demanding more Dilly,” he
moves further in the room. “Some are just taking it.”

Reid jumps up, Booker, Clarence and I right
behind him.

“Be careful!” Someone calls after me but I
don’t bother finding out whom.

My body still aches from the prison and the
mob’s violence from earlier, but I push through it, making my way
down the tunnel with the others, stepping over bodies and past
Mybyncians wailing against the walls. A loud scream erupts further
down, in the Great Hall and we take off in a run. When we get
there, I can’t believe my eyes.

A riot.

An all out riot. Mybyncians swing on each
other, knocking down the Dilly administrators and stealing their
doses. And then they’re grabbing it from each other, hitting one
another with hard blows to the head and hands, attempting to snatch
the medicine for themselves. The Dilly is thrown about, some
reaching to catch it but they’re knocked back by the violent brawls
while the administrators try crawling away.

And suddenly, Reid, Booker and Clarence are
in the middle of the pit. Reid dives into his instinctive Rox
movements, slamming his foot into a few faces and sending them
soaring while spiking elbows and sharp fingers into guts and groins
of anyone approaching. He doesn’t even break a sweat. All three
work together to defuse the mob, but it’s mostly Reid clearing the
space around him. The fighting seems to stop momentarily… until
more race forward, launching themselves at him with fevered
attempts. But, like usual, he catches their advances before they’re
able to make contact, knocking them back with swift kicks, jabs and
punches. It’s amazing to watch Rox work. No one can get near him.
Not within feet. He’s always prepared, always anticipating their
strikes, quickly disabling them before they get a chance. Another
few minutes and the riot has stopped completely, no one even trying
to get near the three.

Clarence and Booker pant while Reid faces the
crowd in front of them. Scanning the Great Hall and all the
paranoid eyes, he bellows in a sharp call that fills the entire
space, “Think it’s smart to kill the humans? We’re the only ones
able to leave and bring back Dilly! Real
fucking
smart,” he
hisses, pacing around, those nearby retreating. “You come near me,
come near
any
of the humans or the Dofinikes and I will make
sure you’re left for dead.”

The Mybyncians look around at one another, at
the infected on the floor and against the walls and finally, back
to Reid. He starts to leave but pauses, bending low to scoop a
terrified Mallup into his arms. “And don’t attack the
administrators again. Without order none of you will get your
doses.”

With Clarence and Booker behind him, he
leaves the Great Hall and heads back through the tunnel toward
Sampson and the others. He holds Mallup firmly and she grips him
with tight fingers, grasping onto him, pressing herself hard
against his chest. The sight ignites a small, inward rage but I
ignore it, moving through the corridor to follow them. The
Mybyncians scurry out of his way, opening a path on instinct.

I’m right behind Clarence and Booker, and
once inside the cozy quarters with the others, I close the solid
coral door behind me. Reid sets Mallup in the back corner near the
chancellor and Sansa, but she’s refusing to let him go. Still
tugging on his black suit, she whimpers slightly as he tries prying
her fingers free.

“It’s alright,” he has her on the ground.
“They’re not going to hurt you here.”

“No…” she keeps her arms around his neck,
holding him to her.

“I won’t let them hurt you. You’re safe.”

It shouldn’t matter, not in a time of crisis
like this, but I can’t help it. The sight of another female
grasping him, reaching for him has me in violent knots. She’s
obviously terrified, but she’ll have something more to fear if she
doesn’t remove her hands soon.

“Mallup,” the queen shakes her head.

This seems to be the only thing to reach her.
With the queen’s instruction, Mallup finally drops her arms,
keeping them close to herself.

“What happened?” Sampson glances between Reid
and Clarence.

“It was a riot,” he glances at the queen who
seems confused.

“But Varille…”

“She wasn’t there, your Majesty,” Clarence
exhales, wiping sweat from his brow. “They are getting out of
control again. Started attacking the administrators.”

“Goodness…” Sampson shakes his head.

“He…” Mallup’s soft voice quivers as she
peeks up to Reid. “He… stopped it. He saved me.”

“She would’ve been trampled,” Reid exhales,
running his hands through his hair and pacing. “You need order. If
they really listen to Chancellor Keller, get some Dilly in him and
send him out. They’ll descend into anarchy if you let them.”

“Your Majesty…” Sampson turns to her. “Have
the other Waters been infected?”

“No,” Queen Ravan shakes her head. “I have
consulted with the governors. We are the only ones—thank
Goodness.”

“We’re lucky it’s contained only to
Pryncbia,” Clarence says. “It could’ve been released
everywhere.”

I shake my head. “Perio did it.”

All heads fly to me.

“Excuse me?” Queen Ravan’s eyes are wide in
disbelief.

“He told me. When we were retrieving the
chancellor.”

“What did he say?” Sampson asks.

“He said something like… ‘in order to save
some, many must die.’ It was him. How he got it and let it out… I
have no idea, but it was definitely Perio.”

The queen, chancellor, Sampson and Clarence
exchange looks.

“And you said you were attacked by a Vermix?”
Sampson asks.

“That’s the other odd thing,” Reid crosses
his arms. “Perio seemed pretty pissed when Booker blew him away. It
sounded like they were working together.”

“But he hates outsiders…” Mae frowns,
glancing around the room. “Right?”

I nod. “So what’s with the partner up?”

“And you are
certain
that he let the
toxin out?” Queen Ravan narrows her eyes at me. “It is
imperative
you are correct on this assumption.”

“It’s no assumption. He wants to be the
savior when it all goes to hell.”

“So why team up with his sworn enemy?” Jace
frowns.

“Unless he was planning to betray them,” I
shrug, “who knows?”

“Okay,” Sampson begins to pace, “we’ll deal
with Perio soon, but right now we need to focus on the situation
outside. We have half the royal city looking for more dosages of
the Dilly. And since the other governors are unable to physically
bring more, we have to deal with the resources we have.” He turns
to the queen and chancellor. “How much Dilly is on reserve here at
the FH?”

“There is enough for the next couple of
days…” Queen Ravan says. “But that is all.”

“Well…” Sampson nods. “Let’s start there.
Guys,” he turns to all of us. “I need your assistance bringing it
here.”

“You cannot leave!” Mallup jumps up, throwing
her arms around Reid. “You
cannot
!”

He flinches at the contact, a look of
startled confusion painting his face. But after seeing her
terrified eyes, he relaxes in her hold. Slowly, he tries peeling
her arms off him but she refuses to let him go, the vicious knot
growing in me again. Just as I’m about to race across the room and
force her off him, he finally manages to free himself.

“We’re coming back.”

“But… but who will…”

“Mallup!” the queen shakes her head
disapprovingly. “I believe the chancellor will join Varille in her
post,” she turns to him, “if you are feeling up for it, that
is.”

“Certainly…” Chancellor exhales, “my Queen…”
another big breath. He takes another, gulping, “Whatever I can
do…”

“I think the sight of you will be more than
enough,” Queen Ravan nods, returning her focus to a quivering
Mallup, “but if you are that frightened, you may remain in here
with my girls. Attend to them with the Dilly.”

“Thank you, your Majesty,” Mallup bows. But
before Reid is able to step away, she flings herself at him one
more time, pressing her body hard against his. “Please come back
soon.”

Reid gulps, his hands high above her,
refusing to return any sort of contact. He risks a wide-eyed glance
at me, but I’m keeping still. It’s all I can do not to run over and
snatch her off him. Every instinct I have tells me to drag her back
by her long, rose-colored locks and toss her against the wall. But
I can’t. Not here in front of everyone.