Chapter 6: The Exodus

Garrett awoke, slipping on his clothes. The Keeper's information was useful, but it left Garrett with too many questions, ends that needed to be tied. Why did the Keepers want to help him all of a sudden, even though he had abandoned them? What was the big thing that the Mechanists were planning? Why were the Keepers so sure of their survival? And how the hell did they know that he needed to go to Letheritzia? These thoughts plagued him as he stepped out into the light.

Finding the street that led to the stables, he began reading the scroll of information on Letheritzia. Letheritzia consisted of 7 hexagonal sections. Each section was about 20 square kilometers large. The outer hexagons, which bordered the center hexagon, consisted of peasant houses, manufacturers, and local small shops. The hexagon in the center, however, was reserved for the higher-class, such as the nobility, rulers, and government officials. This would be Garrett's prime target.

As the thief read on, he failed to notice two Mechanists sidle up on either side. One of them whispered in a hushed, yet clearly angry, voice, "Thou hast best come with us, heathen." Garrett, taken by surprise, followed them. The two men led the thief down a dark alleyway. At this point, the thief tried to figure out a way to escape. Reaching deep into his sleeve, he pulled out a flash bomb. But before he could activate the bomb, a Mechanist swung sideways and low with his mace, shattering the bone. Garrett let out a cry of pain as the Mechanists dragged him and his things along the alleyway. The pain was so intense that Garrett passed out, his captors dragging him along by his legs like game meat.

Garrett woke up and felt an extreme pain in his leg. The pain almost drove him back into unconsciousness. He could feel he was being dragged still. Bracing himself for the pain that was sure to come, he reached into his shattered leg's pant. Withdrawing a healing potion, it took all of his willpower to gag himself. Despite its rather strong taste, the thief welcomed the cool sensation of healing. In about ten seconds, his leg was healed. Garrett smiled, a slow, cruel smile. Soon, very soon, his captors would be captivated.

Taking his knife from within his clothes, he looked at the two Mechanists, who were unaware of his entire recovery, he took aim and flung the sharp blade at the left Mechanist's neck. The knife cut his skin and severed his nerves. The man collapsed, dropping Garrett's left leg as he went.

The Mechanist on the right held on to Garrett while reaching for his mace with the intent on smashing his head in. But Garrett had his left leg free, and he swung it around and caught the Mechanist's arm that was holding the mace. The man cried out and dropped the mace, which hit the cobblestone street with a loud clang. Meanwhile, Garrett twisted around and freed his right leg. Falling to the ground, he quickly rolled and got on his feet.

But the Mechanist was quick too, and he snatched up his mace just as Garrett got to his feet. Swinging the heavy weapon downward, he missed as the thief coolly sidestepped. Off balance, Garrett kicked him on his backside. The man tumbled and fell while Garrett stepped up to him and broke his arm with one clean, sharp kick. The crack of bone was loud in the narrow street. The Mechanist screamed as Garrett picked up his mace.

"Thou may kill me in body, but rest assured that the Master Builder shall take mine soul."

"You and your Builder are nothing to me, nothing!" Garrett screamed, his pent-up emotions getting the better of his usually calm composure. "You all are a bunch of hypocritical assholes who only want to suck up to the upper crust of the city! May the gods damn you!" And with that, Garrett swung the heavy club down at the man's head. The Mechanist felt no pain as his skull was shattered, his blood, brains, and bone splattering along the street. Garrett tried to calm himself, but then he couldn't take it any longer. All of his frustrations towards the Mechanists, their Builder, their forced conversions, their damn robotic heads and mech guards, and their new master plan…there wasn't a single piece of the body intact after Garrett was through with him.

The anger and hate cleared from his mind as Garrett surveyed the mess he had made. Picking up his bags, he walked away, leaving the mace and his frustrations behind with the bloody mess that was once a man.

Taking his map, he tried to find landmarks. Sighting for a large statue, he saw it peeking over the buildings. Noting his course, he made his way to the stables…

Only to see the last coach of the day leaving. Cursing the Mechanists for getting him into so much trouble, he ran alongside it, jumping into the cargo hold. He jumped, threw himself and his bags in, and he was safe, watching the City that had been his home for his entire life slowly fade into the distance. Garrett grinned, then smiled, and eventually laughed so hard he thought he would surely disturb the people riding in the carriage. This is it, he thought to himself, This is the Exodus.

Chapter 5 / Chapter 7