Koradonda: Chapter 11, The First Challenge, Part 1

Ann continues to struggle with the harsh realties she is now facing

Ann watched the helicopters set down on the dew laden lawn at the Jones Estate as the media still called it, with the sun just peeking over the eastern horizon. Mind numb from days of stress and nights of abuse, she moved to board with the rest of those selected by the King to accompany him with their rotors still spinning.

She looked at the freshly welded steel. At the King’s request, each helicopter had welded steel separating the pilot’s compartment from the rest of the cabin, and his people. They’d painted it well enough that you would have thought it had always been there. As she took her seat, the pilot pointed to a set of headphones. Resigned, she put them on.

“Ann,” Harrison’s voice came out of them, “can His Majesty hear you in a separated compartment over the noise of the engines?”

She sighed, then replied, “Almost certainly.”

“How remote is the chance that he can hear my end of the conversations?”

With her wearing his damned leather? She answered, not hiding her bitterness, “His Majesty can almost certainly hear anything I can.”

“That is unfortunate. There are things we would like to discuss with you in private. I’ll tell you what I can under the circumstances. You will have fighter and assault helicopter escort the entire trip. On the tip of the Michigan upper peninsula, the helicopters will set down to refuel. It is there that the other six helicopters will meet you. The people that will travel to witness this, are in flight to get there already and will beat you there. If you have followed the news, you know that they are international delegates from all over the world and not United States appointees. The United States representatives are the men flying nine of the helicopters. The other three are being flown by two Canadian and one English representative. You’ll find that the men flying the helicopters from that estate are all senior military officers, including the Chief of Staff himself.

“What we have kept from getting into the news is that yesterday, the creature started emitting some sort of nerve gas. There will be two more helicopters joining us as we near our destination with hazmat gear for everyone who might need it, as well as a third helicopter with other general gear for the delegates. If he has not heard what I am telling you about this, you are to inform His Majesty about the nerve gas and your need for protection.”

“Some Pets may need protection as well,” she told him, though only five pets, including Lisa and Sara, were attending the challenge.

“They are bringing enough to outfit them. There will also be a dozen inflatable shelters should some of his people need such. If there is something you believe we need, it is not too late to add it. Heavy lift helicopters will carry the gear and there are three more on standby if you need last-minute additions. Now I will hand you over to Fords.”

“Hello Ann. They have assigned me to a team that is looking into the situation, assuming that His Majesty will survive the fight. Having a single person as an insider is not the most ideal situation. We have eight volunteers willing to accompany His Majesty back to his estate afterward.”

Ann considered that. “I don’t think that they would allow any unless they became slaves bound to one of His Majesty’s people.”

There was a lengthy pause. “Are you now a slave like the two of Dolly’s”

“No, not quite.”

“Are you a Pet?”

“No, for either of those, you must be willing.”

Fords’ voice was calm and even. “Then what do you mean, not quite?”

She thought about it, then decided there would be no harm in answering. “You must have photos of me in the leather outfit I now wear. It’s enchanted and gives His Majesty some control over me, as well as allowing him to see and hear everything I do. While it is likely true that he has me wear it so I do not do something to get myself killed, it nevertheless allows him to restrain me with a thought.” It surprised her that her suit hadn’t reacted to stop her from telling him that.

Fords was silent for a time, then spoke. “From what I have read of you, you must find your position nearly intolerable.”

She took a deep breath before replying, “Yet I must tolerate it, or even more lives will be lost. According to His Majesty, my premature death will result in an apocalyptic war that may take down both races. I have little reason to doubt his word on this.”

“In your opinion, would relationships between our two races go better if the eight men and women become slaves to members of his race?”

“They would accept only women. A woman in such a position would be raped multiple times daily. However, if her mind can survive that, she would be a useful diplomatic tool for them. While all the slaves here have dealt with the government on their master’s behalf, it has strictly been on whatever local level they needed, and none are any help on a national or international level.”

The doors to the helicopter closed, and it started to rise. Ann prayed that the King would lose.

Whatever the creature was, it was animalistic in nature, if not rabid. It would be easier to find a way of neutralizing it than the King himself. She did not want to talk to Fords about the King winning. She didn’t want to consider that he might win.

As the helicopter started north, she switched the topic. “I assume that every type of surveillance equipment available will be with the cargo arriving.”

“Yes, though a great deal of equipment has already been set up in the area that can take flight on command. We have trained everyone going in the use of some type of recording equipment or another. Let’s get back to what we should do after the confrontation.”

“No, I don’t want to think that far into the future. Let’s stay with the challenge.”

Ford sighed, “As you wish. In that case, I will hand you back to Harrison.”

“You have something to add to what you have reported?” Harrison’s voice came on at once.

“Just impressing on you that once the people arrive, everyone must stay in the designated area. His Majesty has a flag he will have set in the center of your camp and none of his people will come within one hundred meters of it without direct orders from him. Two hours before dawn, someone will come to escort them to where they can watch the challenge. Do not move from there until it is over.”

“You have covered this before.”

“It is critical. I do not know if violating it would result in only that person dying, or everyone present being killed.”

“What about the helicopters and planes that will film it? What about the team that is paralleling the creature and the teams we already have on the ground in the area?”

She sighed. Didn’t he get it? “Get the ground teams out. Air cover needs to keep a respectable distance. There will be many there that could throw a rock hard enough to down an aircraft if it they think bothersome, and no rules against it.”

“I cannot guarantee everyone will be evacuated. The State Department could not even guarantee all the American teams leave to say nothing of the others. But there are people listening in that can make that decision, so your message has gotten where it needs to be.”

The conversation was getting irritating. “I have told you what I can. I suggest that your military people play it by ear as they watch the challenge.”

Ann knew that they had moved missile batteries into place, but the Nature Lord was an unknown. If it were up to her, if it appeared that the survivor was gravely injured, she would order the missiles launched to take them out. But would they do that? “Please, this long flight is one time I can try to get peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. I really don’t know what more I can say.”

**

Washington DC: Office of the Secretary of State:

The Secretary of State addressed them all. “You can hear it in her voice. She wants to die.”