New Zion
Chapter 17: Five Steps

“C’mon Cole, it’s time to wake up,” Cole didn’t open his eyes, refusing to move. “Cole, we’ve still gotta go to school. It’s the first day back and Hunter will flip out if we don’t show up,” Cole cracked open one eye. Aria was shaking him. She’d already put on her school uniform. Cole sat up, yawning.

“Alright, I’m up. Head on downstairs, I’ll be there in a bit,” Aria gave him a look. “I’m not going to go back to sleep, ok?”

“You better not,” She warned as she left the room. Cole got dressed and started through the house. Stopping at his father’s study he peeked inside. His father was sitting at his desk, head in his hands.

“Hey dad?” Cole stepped into the room. His father looked up.

“Hey Cole. Whaddya need?” Cole stepped forwards. Getting on his knees, he bent forwards with his hands flat down and his forehead touching the floor.

“I apologize for what I have done. I am prepared for whatever punishment that you deem necessary,” Ryan raised an eyebrow.

“Any punishment? Just how far are you willing to go?” Ryan asked.

“Name it,” Ryan sighed.

“Well, you are going to visit the families of every single person that you killed and tell them why their relatives aren’t coming home,” Cole nodded. “It won’t end there, but I will wait until you’ve completed your task before I mete out your next punishment,” Cole stood up. “Here’s the list. By the way, you’re doing this today,” Cole took the list from Ryan.

“Yes sir,” He turned and started walking to the door. Arik Lorne entered and passed Cole as he walked to Ryan.

“Ryan, I’ve got an idea about those dogs,” Ryan nodded. “We could get some that people don’t want anymore and completely reeducate them,” Ryan smiled.

“That would most certainly be interesting…” Ryan stoked his beard. “Well, we don’t have to worry about that for now. Right now I need you to focus on what Namhaid is planning,” Arik nodded and started for the door. “Oh, and could you get Levi to go with Cole, and tell ’em to bring Cole to Town Square after he finishes the first part of his punishment?” Arik gave a slight bow and left the room. Ryan stood up and walked into the hallway. Archimedes was walking towards him.

“Ah, Ryan. I was just coming to see you,” Ryan nodded to him.

“Go ahead,” he responded.

“Well, I would like to know if we are to make sure that nobody knows that we are there at the school, or if we are allowed to have our presence known,” Ryan thought a moment.

“It’s fine if you’re presence is known, but have one of you unknown. Have them take over watch on a hill or something to watch over everything else and take our other Avian, Eagle Eye,” Archimedes bowed his head and walked off. “Oh, and be sure to keep a watchful eye on the Terra with the crimson hair. Her name is Aria,” Archimedes turned again, and again bowed his head before continuing down the hallway. Ryan continued through the house. Exiting to the field behind it, he continued on to the Smithy.

The sound of metal on metal and grinding managed to come out on top of the construction sounds. He stepped inside to see ten people hammering, shaping and sharpening pieces of metal. One in the back was shaking her head and brought her fist down on the table, cracking it. She looked up at Ryan.

“Don Avalon, what can I do for you today?” she asked. Ryan looked down at what seemed to be a ten year old girl with bunny ears.

“Well, Zuri, I was wondering about those special items I had you making for me,” Ryan asked. Zuri nodded and stuck her thumb out over her shoulder.

“It’s out back. Follow me,” she said walking further into the building. Ryan followed her into the back rooms. She stopped in front of a stone wall and pulled out a key. Sliding it between the seams of three of the stones, she turned it. The wall slid to the side. Ryan looked inside and smiled.

“When can we get these shipped to ‘Bastion’?” Ryan asked. Zuri looked thoughtful.

“Well, we’re almost done the first batch of projectiles, but we’ll send those separately. These weapons can be sent out right now, and the armor that you had me fashion can be sent after that. We’re just finishing off about twenty more sets, and then we’ll be ready,” Ryan nodded.

“And there’s enough for everybody, right?” Zuri laughed.

“I have enough for five of everything for everyone, and there’ll be a surplus of projectiles. Although, we’re still trying to figure out some kind of ear protection that’ll work for the Terra. I mean, I can work in here only because of the ear plugs you gave me. Otherwise the smithy would have to be outside,” Zuri explained.

“I’d like to have you work in an environment that’s comfortable, but what goes on here can’t be known to anyone outside. Also, our purebred wolves haven’t come into this building, have they?” Zuri smirked.

“I told ’em that I wouldn’t stand to have their kind in here. Said that they make me too nervous. My smiths have been making a joke of it since. One even came in with fake wolf ears on top of his head,” Ryan chuckled.

“Well, better that they have some kind of humor than none at all,” Ryan quipped. Zuri shook her head.

“So long as they get the job done,” she replied. Ryan smiled.

“Thank you for all of your hard work,” he stated. Zuri smirked.

“It wasn’t just me. The boys in there have been working their tail ends off for the last few years,” Ryan nodded.

“Of course. Pass on my thanks and admiration to them. Anyways, I need to go check in with the other teams. Thank you for your time,” Ryan turned and began walking out of the building.

“Of course, Don Avalon. We will continue to work for you for as long as our bodies will be capable of working,” Ryan waved one arm over his shoulder and walked to the exit. Stepping into the sun, Ryan started walking towards the warehouse.

“Honey, could I ask you a question?” Ryan turned to see Summer push off the wall of the smithy and walk over to him. Ryan nodded.

“What’s up with Zuri?” she asked. Ryan blinked.

“What about her?” Summer shrugged.

“I mean, she’s worked for us for a long time, but I can’t understand her at all, and she’s always seems so busy that I don’t want to interrupt her work so I don’t ask her any questions,” Summer explained. “Basically, I want to know why she’s a rabbit Terra but she isn’t jumpy, she’s really strong, and she’s stayed twelve years old for years now,” Ryan cocked his head.

“Summer, you are one of the foremost experts on the biology of the different races,” Ryan stated. Summer gave him a flat look. “Ok, ok. As you know, she’s a rabbit Terra. The reason for her strength and apparent age is that she’s part Berg Leute. It would seem that she stopped aging at twenty four years old, so that’s why she looks twelve, since she’s most likely got the lifespan of the Terra,” Summer nodded. Ryan looked at her as she started mumbling to herself. “And no, you may not conduct any experiments or examinations on her until after she’s done her current assignment and only with her explicit permission,” Summer looked up.

“But, Ryan, she could be the key to…” Ryan held up his hand.

“I said no,” Summer’s ear flopped. Ryan sighed. “Sweetie, I understand that you’ve been trying to figure out ways to draw out the best traits of the different races, but ultimately, we’re doing fine as a whole, and, on top of that, this is business, and business comes before any personal projects that you or I are working on,” Summer nodded. “Good. Now, would you like to see what we’ve been doing, or is there something else that you’d like to do?” Summer thought a moment.

“Well, I haven’t really gotten to spend a lot of time with you lately…” she started. Ryan smiled.

“Well then, let’s check on the men, then we can head out for a meal. How’s that sound?” Summer’s face lit up, and her ears straightened.

“Sounds good,” Summer linked arms with Ryan and they walked over to the warehouse. A human with a red bandana on each of his arms walked over.

“Good afternoon, Don,” the man greeted.

“Afternoon. So how’s the construction going?” The man scratched the back of his head.

“It’s going well. We would have finished by the end of the week, but it just so happens that our least squeamish workers are also our hardest workers, so we’ve been set back by a few weeks. Quite frankly, we may be a whole month behind. It all depends on how soon those men can come back,” Ryan thought a moment.

“They should be back by week’s end. They have a grizzly task ahead of them though, so it may take two,” the human nodded.

“Ok. By the way, we’re waiting to breach until after the warehouse is up,” Ryan nodded.

“Of course. On another note, do you know where our wolves are?” the human smirked.

“I have them at the other end of the grounds working with Herb. Although, it’s weird. The two wolves don’t get along very well,” the human said. Ryan’s brow furrowed.

“Huh. That could be very useful. Thank you,” Ryan said.

“Of course Don. After all, that’s what I’m here for,” Ryan smiled and walked away with Summer.

“Why are you going after the wolf Terra so much?” Summer asked. Ryan looked down at her.

“Well, I have it on good authority that they don’t really believe in our mission statement,” Ryan stated.

“Ok. I trust you,” She said, hugging his arm as they walked. “By the way, why did Cole take a car today?” Ryan’s eye twitched.

“Well, he’s being punished for something he did right now, and three people won’t comfortably fit on his motorcycle,” Summer looked up at him.

“Punished for what?” she asked. Ryan shook his head.

“He did something that went against everything that I’ve taught him. It’s a part of business,” Summer looked at him skeptically.

“What did he do?” she pressed. Ryan sighed.

“Well, he’s caused a lot of families’ grief,” Summer didn’t stop looking at him. Ryan continued looking forward. “And he still has yet to learn that there are consequences for everything,”

“He wiped out a gang, didn’t he,” Summer said. It was a statement, not a question. Ryan shook his head.

“He took it five steps further. Either way, it’s being dealt with,” he responded. Summer nodded.

“I still don’t understand what’s wrong with killing all of those trouble makers. Back in our country we kill them and drag out their entrails, putting them on display at their hideout as a message. The Terra Lands have much fewer gangs than you do. But your people here are mentally incapable of dealing with that, so I suppose your way works out better here,” Summer sighed. “Just, don’t hurt him too badly,” Ryan nodded.

“I will only take it four steps too far,”

©2017