The Collective (15 page)

Kasmine was livid. “After all we’ve done for them they
still complain.”

“As I said before.” Wisen stood, staring down at Kasmine’s
distraught mass. “Rats who have gone wild. Now their disease and filth is
spreading through this great city.”

“We have to stop them Wisen. I don’t care about the cost.
If they take even one building our status will be diminished in the eyes of the
Upper Houses.” He finally understood the magnitude of the assault and he
realized he should have heeded Wisen’s earlier warnings.

“The guards are doing what they must to ensure that does
not happen.” Wisen looked at the monitor. “Sir, you have an incoming call.”

Kasmine looked toward the screen. He leaned forward trying
to speak with confidence, but his voice revealed his hidden fear. “This is
Kasmine, First of the House of Iossec.”

Giless Lenfree’s slender face appeared on the screen. He
was Kasmine’s second and normally in a good mood. Today his clothes and hair
were disheveled and the lines of worry crisscrossed his face. Kasmine could
hear the screams and gunfire in the background.  Giless gave a half-hearted
greeting. “Kasmine, First of the House of Iossec, I have news concerning the
rebellion.”

“My friend,” Kasmine responded. “No need for pleasantries,
speak freely. The quicker we understand this threat the quicker we can contain
it.”

Lenfree explained. “They struck in the middle of the night
killing half my guards and staff. Right now rebels are taking control of my
home floor by floor. I don’t know if I have the manpower to stop them. The
other Houses are under similar duress. If you have anyone to spare…”

“How many are there Lenfree?” Wisen asked.

“More than anyone anticipated; former guards, former
servants, and some people from the adjacent city of Sinsabae. We’re being
overwhelmed.” Lenfree hung his head. “Without any aide it won’t be long before
we’re overtaken.”

“We’ll do everything we can to get extra guards there.”
Kasmine assured him, then he turned to his aide. “Wisen, are we making progress
pushing back the rebels? We cannot let Lenfree fall.”

“We have them under control, but we must make sure this
House is secure before we aid another.” Wisen stated. “Lenfree do you have any
other information that can help us understand what we’re dealing with?”

“I do.” Lenfree looked at the floor.

“Tell us Lenfree. We don’t have time to guess.” Wisen
demanded.

“I know who’s leading them.” The second stammered out. “I
know who’s leading the rebels.”

“What?” Kasmine was surprised by the revelation that the
rebels had a leader.

Lenfree continued. “He’s leading this assault personally.
That’s why they’re taking floors so quickly.”

“Who?” The aide inquired.

“One of my guards on the lower level. He confirmed it.”
Lenfree looked at Wisen, then at Kasmine. He wanted them to understand there
was no mistaking the one responsible for the assault.

Wisen was growing weary of his guessing game. “Lenfree if…”

“It’s Ralston Transt.” Lenfree blurted out.

“Ralston!” The mentioned of the name confused Kasmine.
Surely the boy was dead.

His second saw the look of discord on his face. “I’m sorry
Kasmine. I didn’t want to believe it. But it’s true.”

“We have to put an end to this.” Wisen reasoned. “Where is
he now?”

“He’s on the ninth level and steadily advancing.” Lenfree
confirmed, exhausted by the thought. “By my calculation he’ll be on this floor
in the next few hours.”

Wisen, not Kasmine responded to the new information. “Then
we need to take drastic measures.”

“Yes. I knew you would come up with something Wisen.” It
was clear to Lenfree that Kasmine was still in a state of disbelief.

“We may have to blow the building.” Wisen said in a
calculated tone.

“Wait…what...blow the building?” The second responded,
discouraged by the aide’s strategy.

Wisen turned toward Kasmine. “That’s the only way we’ll be
sure he’s dead, Kasmine.”

“No…you can’t blow the building. My people, I have some
family on those floors. There has to be an alternative. Kasmine, think about
what you are doing.” Lenfree pleaded to no avail.

Kasmine was still in a trance after hearing Ralston’s name.
He should be far from the city or dead by now, how was he leading a rebellion
against him? He thought. This did not happen overnight. Ralston was planning
this all along. Wisen and the rest of his aides were right. He should have
killed him when he had the chance. Kasmine was determined not to make that
mistake again. “Lenfree you’ve been loyal to the House of Iossec and always heeded
the commands of your First.”

“Yes Kasmine, but…” Lenfree’s words were cut off as Kasmine
expanded on the severity of the situation. 

“Then get everyone you can to higher ground. Ralston’s
uprising against our House ends today.”

“Yes…You’re right Kasmine. He’s on the tenth floor per my
reports. Do what you must.”  Lenfree put his fist over his heart. “It has been
my honor to serve as the second to the House of Iossec.”

“You and your family’s sacrifice will not go unnoticed
Giless.” The screen went dark. Kasmine straightened himself in his chair as he
addressed his aide. “Wisen, find Sergeant Bilyar. Tell him to grab two men and
head to the armory. I want all three of them to meet me on the council room
balcony with FPB’s in hand. Make sure the shooters selected can aim straight.
We have a clear shot to Lenfree’s home and we may only have one chance.”

Wisen put his hand on his leader’s shoulder to reassure
him. “This is the right decision.”

The First answered as boldly as he could muster. “We don’t
have much time.”

A few minutes later Sergeant Bilyar and two snipers were
standing on the balcony holding large silver tubes under their arms. The weapon
had a long shaft similar to a rocket launcher, but the operation was different.
Bilyar walked over to a case resting on the balcony and opened it to reveal
four, six inch diameter metal balls. He rubbed his hand over the top of the
cylindrical mass before he placed his weapon on the ground. Angling the shaft,
Bilyar slid the ball delicately into the tube. He waited to hear a locking
sound. Instantly the FPB, or Force Propelled Bomb, started to whir as it
calibrated the closest target. Bilyar picked up the FPB placing his right hand
on the back end under the trigger and his left hand focusing the barrel towards
the tenth floor of the Lenfree home. The two guards followed the same exacting
procedure one at a time until they were all standing with the weapon facing
over the balcony.

“Make sure to aim for the tenth floor.” Kasmine commanded.
“That is where the forces are concentrated. It’s a preparation area for the
entertainment floor above.”

“Good sir. These here will tear through those walls like
butter.” The Sergeant tapped the side of the FPB, then looked back at Kasmine.
“Awaiting your order sir.”

Kasmine looked out to the House of his second. He could see
the smoke and hear the gunfire around the city. What had become of his city? So
calm, clean and set to elevate to a higher status, who would have thought a
Civil War would tear down all he created? Losing Lenfree’s home would devastate
morale and even cause a drop in their position among the Collective.  How could
he have been so blind as not to see Ralston for what he would become? He was
more of a corporate leader; he diagnosed information, clarified data and kept a
firm hold on energy production as well as consumption. Maybe this type of
leadership was not for him. The bloodshed was more than he could stand. He
still saw Dalsha’s face on nights when no stars covered the sky. His ears would
ring with her screams of treachery. Would Ralston haunt him too? “Fire!” The
words rung from the base of his throat.

The three metal balls sailed through the air effortlessly
as the trajectory sent them crashing through the glass windows on the tenth
floor, through the wood board walls. The first crashed into a kitchen area
landing in front of Lenfree’s guards attempting to flank the rebels in the main
room. The second one thudded off one of the rebels backs sending him slamming
into the opposite wall. While the rebels engaged in close quarter fighting to
take the floor, the third bomb smashed through the wall and slowed in the
middle of the group. All the fighters froze. One of the rebels looked back at
Ralston. He turned from his opponent, leaping toward his general shouting. “We
must protect Ral…”

The explosion shook the twenty-one story building as debris
shot out from every opening.  Floors dropped down upon one another weakened by
the blast. The building rumbled and creaked as the structure began to give way.
The home swayed from side to side on the verge of collapse, then slowly leaned
to one side and stopped. The fighting below subsided as the rebels attempted to
get from under the building. Kasmine watched as the Lenfree’s estate leaned
toward his home. He had not expected so much destruction. If the house toppled
causing a domino effect there was no telling the amount of damage. Kasmine
turned backed to Bilyar. “Sergeant, I applaud your efficiency.”

“Thank you, sir.” Bilyar said through a wide grin.

“Not as accurate as we would like though.” Wisen observed.

‘No sir. They never are.” The Sergeant agreed.

“War is never accurate Sergeant.” Kasmine noted as he
stepped through the door into the main room.

Wisen gave Bilyar further instructions. “Sergeant, no time
to gloat over your success I need you to get down to the main level. Round up
your best soldiers and push those dogs into the street. I want to know the
minute the building is cleared. We’ll start cleaning the streets and going
house to house to reinforce those under the most severe assault.”

“Yes sir. You two grab the case and follow me.” The squad
quickly disappeared through the room and down the service elevator. Sitting at
the head of the table, Kasmine had activated the monitor and was watching the
battles rage through his home and right outside the ground floor doors. The
rebels continued to fight unabated by the destruction they surely heard and
witnessed. Kasmine hoped the loss of Ralston would mean an instant cease and
desist. Instead the rebels seemed more determined. Wisen walked over to him and
placed his hand on his shoulder. He could feel the First of the House trembling
with fear. Wisen made no effort to hide his concern. “I thought the fireworks
would have slowed them down, but it seems we’re dealing with something greater
than we anticipated.”

“I see that Wisen.” Kasmine said clearly agitated.

Wisen knew he had to reinstill confidence in his battered
leader. “What I’m saying Kasmine is you are the First of the House of Iossec.
We are backed by the most powerful families in this country. Our resources are
virtually unlimited. All you need to do is lead and command. These filthy
mongrels will surely fall. Their faith in a lost cause will never defeat our
power.”

“You’re right. I know you’re right. It’s just…” Kasmine was
lost for words. The events of the day had shaken the foundation of their city
as well as his core convictions.

“No. You are the leader, you are the First. Your commands
are the people’s desire.”  Wisen insisted.

Kasmine was still not convinced. “We’ve never been attacked
like this, Wisen. Not like this…”

“Uprisings always occur.” The aide reminded him. “You think
the masses are happy with their status in life? You think they don’t desire a
greater life, a greater purpose, just as we do?”

“I never thought…they’ve just been…just been tools to build
an empire. I never thought to ask a mule if it longed for a better life.”
Kasmine encircled his right hand toward the floor as if one of the vagrants
were in front of him.

“And you won’t ask now. We’ll beat them back into
submission. They’ll be too fearful to ever cross Kasmine again.” Wisen spoke
with authority, something Kasmine was unable to do at the moment. He was
without words. Wisen spoke the truth, but did little to subdue the impending
dread growing in him.

Wisen continued to advise. “You have to call Mordal and
request a special meeting. The heads of the Collective have assisted in the
past, but they need to know the severity of our current situation.” Kasmine
quietly switched on the wall monitor and spoke aloud. His voice quivered as he
called out the name.

*******

That was the current state of the sixth house of the
Collective. Guards fighting day and night with the rebels, forces split between
the city and the Water Facility. Xonox wondered how it had gotten to that
point. Was it the inside leadership of young Ralston Transt or was it the lack
of leadership by Kasmine? Or did a combination of both lead to the sixth House
being on the verge of falling to the last house? Maybe Kasmine’s intense desire
to elevate the House of Iossec caused its inevitable decline. Resource
production was not the only way to raise a House in status.

Blodware Falsteri from the House of Ultirum, the eighth
house, was finishing his report. He committed what men he could to aid Kasmine.
Every member was aware the fall of his city would cause a ripple effect through
the Collective.