Mantiko and Joilee
Seven Days Later
After the meeting with Orlando and Mason, Joilee thought about their encounter. At first, Joilee was adamant about not reporting for duty; however, the desire to walk amongst her people started to surface. However, Mantiko was getting impatient and upset with the constant invasion of his territory. In Mantiko temple quarters, Mantiko was ranting to Joilee; however, she was lost in thought.
"How dare they set up camp on the Quexamatil land. All those who have trespassed on our land without permission have met with death," Mantiko bolstered.
Joilee did not hear one word, Mantiko replied. Her focus was on her military base insignia that she confiscated from one of the E.G.C soldiers on one of her raids. Mantiko noticed that she was lost in thought. Mantiko walked over to Joilee and comfortably took her hand, which snapped her out of her daze.
"Joilee, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I have just been thinking."
"About what!"
"The meeting with my people!"
"I have to. I am thinking about taking a nice-sized group of my best warriors and ending those who set up camp close to our village."
"No! Bloodshed is not needed."
"Bloodshed has occurred as they have constantly trespassed on our lands and murdered and destroyed our land. Most importantly, they want to enter our holy temple. They will not stop until I send these invaders a message."
"Mantiko, no. They will only see that as an act of aggression and start a war."
"We are already at war!"
"You haven't seen war. I know my people and how they were trained to fight. Not only that, they have machines that are designed for war. It won't be a war; it will be a slaughter."
"Then what will you have me do?"
"Let me go talk with them!"
"NO! I won't allow you to go!"
"I have to. Maybe I can talk to them and establish some diplomacy."
"You are not going, final," Mantiko demanded.
Joilee did not like Mantiko's. She quickly pushed back against his attitude.
"You don't demand anything from me. If I am saying that I am going, I am going!"
"You are my wife. The queen of this tribe. Your duty is to me."
"My duty is to the Quexamatil people. Not just you."
"If you try to leave, I will prevent you from leaving the palace temple."
"You do that, and you'll regret it. I am sleeping in the maid's chamber tonight." Joilee attempts to leave, but Mantiko gets in her way.
"Mantiko, I love you. However, I will go through you if I have to."
Mantiko steps aside.
Ixchepuliz & Joilee
Joilee walked through the temple halls cursing to herself about Mantiko's behavior. Ixchepuliz was close in presence when she felt Joilee's trouble aura. Joilee found a balcony area where she decided to take a seat, to look over Quexamtil lands. It was not long before Ixchepuliz joined her.
"What troubles you hear, my daughter?'
"You son, he has become very agitated."
"He has a lot on his mind that is disturbing his peace."
"I know! Every since my people came to this world, he has been restless. I can't blame him, tho'."
"What are you take on it, mother!"
"I sense that we are in a paradigm shift that all Sierran's are about to experience. I knew this day would come since I met you."
"What do you mean?"
"We are standing at the knife-edge of an ending age."
"What do you mean?"
"We don't know what are you people intentions here. We trust you, but the others have proven very disrespectful and not caring for the sacred lands we stand on. They constantly blaspheme by attempting to enter the sacred temple. They don't respect boundaries."
"It's my fault. I brought them here?"
"How!"
"They probably found my communication logs sent beyond this world."
"What do you mean. Do you remember the device I call Palmer? It sends information to the stars that my people can track. They probably examined the logs," Joilee gave a lamented sigh.
Ixchepuliz smiled and grabbed Joilee's hand in comfort.
"Be at ease, my child. Your people would have come with or without your help. It was written in our fate long before we ever lived. Maybe that is why you are here. To guide them here to usher in the new age.
"Regardless, I need to go talk to my people. Mantiko won't allow it."
"Why do you feel that you need to go."
"The man I was supposed to marry arrived with my brother. If I can talk to him, maybe I can set up some diplomacy. Maybe I can get my people to leave this world for good."
"Joilee, your people are never going to leave. They want something, and we have it?"
"What is that?"
"Paradise," Ixchepuliz smiled.
"Yeah, and I will save it; I must go talk with them!"
"Why are you so adamant. What is going on!"
"Fine, I will admit I do miss my people."
"You don't want to be part of the Quexamatil anymore?"
"Of course I do. I mean, I don't mean any disrespect, it just that…."
"I understand. It is natural for you to be amongst the people you were born from."
"I say go! Remember, you will always be welcome here, and you are Quexamatil was well."
"What about Mantiko!"
"I'll talk to him."
"Thank you, mother!"
Mantiko & Ixchepuliz
Ixchepuliz went to talk with Manitko. After searching for him in the temple place, the temple sentinels directed her to the armory. Ixchepuliz went to a one-story stone building filled with make-shift weaponry. Mantiko was instructing twenty of his best warriors to arm themselves. Those already armed were painting their faces, torsos, and limbs with war paint.
"MANTIKO STOP THIS," Ixchepuliz yelled.
"Mother, I don't have time. We are leaving soon."
"Son, you all will not. You must let Joilee go back to her people!"
"No, Joilee's place is at the temple throne."
"Son, I think she should go!"
"You two have been talking! Joilee doesn't understand what these invaders are capable of!"
"Son, They are Joilee's people. She knows their capabilities!"
"She knew them a long time ago!"
"Yet, they are still her people. Let her go! It is her destiny."
"Her destiny is with us!"
"Son, what are you afraid of?
Mantiko sighs!
"What if she doesn't come back!"
"Joilee loves you. She'll be back! Let her go to her people. She may be able to establish some balance with the sky travelers."
"Mantikos sighs.
"Fine!"
Mantiko storms off.
Mantiko goes to his bedroom quarters, where he finds Joilee staring out of the window. Mantiko looks at Joilee as the Sierran sun illuminates her silhouette, giving her an ethereal aura.
"Joilee," Mantiko gently called. Joilee turned around. Joilee noticed Mantiko's angry demeanor. Mantiko approached Joilee and grabbed her hands as his 6 feet and 7 in height towered over his 5 feet, 11-inch mate.
"Joilee, I am sorry for the way I acted. It's just that…."
"You don't have to say a word. I understand."
"I understand as well. You have to go back to your people. I don't like it but promise you'll come back."
"I will. This is my home now!"
*****
Joilee went to the edge of Orlando's Military Outpost where she encountered Orlando and Mason for the first time. The camp managed to grow in size with troops, drones, and vehicles. All thanks to biodomes being able to quickly be constructed with revolutionized biodome technology. These biodomes were self-constructed with drone A.I executed the blueprint design. Joilee, Mantiko, and a few of the Quexamtil escorts observed.
"They brought more soldiers with them," Mantiko replied in a frustrated manner."
"Yeah, that is part of their manifesto. Fast, Effective, and Efficient."
"Joilee are you sure you want to go!"
"I have to." Mantiko looked with sadness. Joilee reached into her pelt satchel and removed her dog tags. They were made of ballistic grade glass. Her name and rank were etched in neon green fonts and the borders were infused with a bluish neon color. Joilee used rope to attach the tags to a tip of an arrow. She fired the arrows at one of the sentinels which landed at his feet.
Moments later, Orlando and Mason walked towards the edge of the bush line. Joilee walked out to greet their estranged comrade.
"Alright Joilee, you got my attention! What do you need," Mason replied.
"I am willing to talk!"
"That is great sis," Mason replied in an elated tone.
"However, before I come with you I have conditions."
"Alright, I am listening."
"One, I talking as a Sierran citizen. I am no longer an E.G.C. officer. 2. I will be allowed to leave when I say. 3. No harm will come to me or any Sierra Native. All trespassing and aggression stop today."
"Joilee that sounds reasonable, enough," Orlando stated.
"Joilee, I am with you. You are in good hands," Mason stated.
Orlando informed base security to make themselves away from their guest. He ordered all soldiers and security to keep their weapons powered down. Orlando and Mason escorted Joilee into the decontamination biodome. On her way, Joilee noticed that E.G.C soldiers was whispering;
"That is her,"
"What is she doing here!"
"Fucking traitor!"
These were the statement of the soldiers loyal to the E.G.C. Joilee saw her fellow race glaring at her with disdain. Joilee knew she would have to watch her back. She did not know if she would have to defend herself against her fellow race. Orlando saw Joilee looking around making herself aware of her surroundings. Orlando knew what she was doing. Joilee was commemorating the newly constructed outpost to memory. All E.G.C personnel took extensive survival training,, and commenting the environment to memory.
"Joilee, I promise you. You are amongst family now!"
"I beg to differ, I can feel the anger the people have for me here."
"They're just upset that you been kicking their ass in the bush! Just stay clear of the droid engineers. You really have been giving them work, smashing up out tin can soldiers."
"Well if Talbot stop sending them to trespass on the Quexamatil land, I would not have to break them. The Sierran native sees your trespass as an act of disrespect; worthy of war."
"Well, that is why I am here. The previous commanding officer is not in charge here anymore. You'll be dealing directly with me. Hopefully we a come to terms and end the hostilities between us and the natives."
"That is why I am here Orlando!"
"Yeah sis' and maybe we can catch up on old times." Joilee smiles.
"I am looking forward to it."
Orlando, Mason, and Joilee arrived in the decontamination bay within the recently established biome. The decontamination is connected to the main biodome command center. Unlike the main base colony that was 40 miles off the continent, the base camp operated as a forward operating base to allow the EGC to expand its territories on the planet.
Before Mason and Orlando stepped inside there was a science team waiting for Joilee. Orlando became suspicious of the team as he did not request any assistance from the Science team nor requested a stasis pod.
"What is going on here," Mason asked the science officers.
"We are here to retrieve the humanoid specimen."
"What humanoid specimen," Mason asked.
"They are talking bout me," Joilee replied as she stepped back in defense. "Orlando you lied to me, I am leaving."
"Joilee I did not betray you…"
"Fuck off Orlando!"
Joilee unsheathed her made-shift dagger and stood in a defense martial arts stance. Joilee backed up a few before attempting to turn around and flee. However, Joilee saw the soldiers that were staring at her. They formed a circular pincer position to capture Joilee.
"You going to get your ass in that pod! One way or the other."
"You think so, I like to see you make me!"
"Gladly,"
The soldiers pointed their weapons at Joilee however, Mason, jump in the way pointing his weapon towards his fellow soldiers.
"Everyone, stand down now," Orlando commanded.
"Sir, we have received special orders straight from the council to contain the specimen."
"WILL YOU STOP FUCKING CALLING ME THAT!"
"General Orlando, sir. I am sorry to disobey your orders, but the council orders override command."
"You touch her, and that will be your ass," Orlando yelled!
"So be it!" The soldier removed a Vesper Android device from his side hip. He pressed a button that activated the taser protocol initiative. These protocols codes were given by E.G.C Council, in the assurance that low-ranking officers could subdue their commanding officers if they ever went rogue.
Joilee looked around and saw that she was alone in her battle.
"You come any closer, and I cut your fucking throats."
"Yeah, I don't think so sweetheart!"
The soldiers fired taser rounds into Joilee hitting her. Joilee body is slightly tensed up after each of the five soldiers' 50,000 joules.
"What the hell, she should have been out," The soldier replied.
"Well keep firing until she is. Lullaby her ass!"
The soldiers relentlessly kept firing live rounds. Joilee screams in pain as she dropped to her knees in pain. Her breathing was rapid as she was gasping for air. Her lungs were filling with blood. The screams were not enough to evoke mercy as they kept firing until her body was riddled
"Finally, the specimen is neutralized!"
The soldiers picked her up and placed her inside a body bag.