Coldness had filled the atmosphere even in the depths underneath the warm temperature of Axe Central City. It might be because of the cooled water that ran through the intertwined pipes that supplied every corner of the city.
Global warming was the culprit. The underground water was normally boiling during this age it may have triggered an Earth's core meltdown, as scientists had exaggerated it.
They seemed to have more information about the inhabitable planet rather than the solution of saving it.
Sophisticated filtering machines, and gargantuan facilities, and were heavily guarded, had a cooling stage for the filtered water to normalize the temperature to be serviced in the surviving cities.
Vibrations were in every corner of the enlarged junction room as the rebels prepared their beddings within the safe embrace of underground concrete.
A few watch rebel guards had their shifts, and a few of them had their little gambling just to keep them awake – as a mandate from Jefferson.
They felt safe. For now.
Thanks to Lance's father, Erik. He was their unsung hero that only the upper rebel ranks and the original members acknowledged.
Depressingly, the biting truth about the recent Abominant attack had flooded his memories again. It was the rebels' doing, causing an onslaught on the city costing innocent lives.
Lance sprung his legs outward in the comfort of his hammock. It was way better than the foam beds laid against the cold concrete floor – moist and watery as if one was lying down on a river.
Damian settled himself to a dice game at the far end corner with other guards, while others were readying for sleep. Spread their foldable cushions on the floor near their tents.
The little ones settled inside the tents, while adults slept on the cushions with their rifles on their sides.
A kid prowled near him, his feet crossed as he squatted on top of a thick grimy rug.
"What do you know about the Abominants?" A soft but confident voice sprung from the boy. He was about six years old, white complexion, and messily cut hair.
It was as if information was discreetly spread among the rebels.
"They are monsters, kid," Lance responded teasingly.
"I know they are monsters. Is it true that they were once humans?" The kid asked, his eyes had never witnessed violence before. Maybe he had overheard rumors about the origins of the Abominants through adults conversing.
"No. They are beings heightened by the evolution of various animals that roam the earth once."
Rumors were spreading that some humans transformed into Abominants. He opted not to disclose to the young one. It was a rare being to have a humanoid Abominant and would ensue chaos amongst the disturbed minds, such as the rebels.
Such in-depth information about abominated humans never crossed the lips of his father. He only knew them as intelligent humanoid Abominants.
The Corporation never mentioned them through the mainstream media. Even the independent News never mentioned them.
Not once.
"What happened to them?" The inquisition would never stop from the kid. It was as if the kid had never known about the creatures beyond the wall.
"Nuclear war, kid. People's greed for resources had led the world to destruction." Now, his tone turned more serious. "Because of these misunderstandings, they throw bombs at each other."
"Then what's the connection with the Abominants?" The kid interjected.
"Because of these new Warhead designs, the radiation was so strong like they were biochemical weapons. They were designed to kill instant living beings within the blast range."
"Woah! Then what happened?" As if the kid understood what Lance stipulated.
"Then, the cruelty of science had taken place. They were transformed but it is not a painless transformation." Lance balanced his statement so as not to sound more sinister.
The mother's kid had stepped into the conversation after she finished their bedding. A crease from the kid's forehead formed upon her mother's intervention.
"I am sorry. This kid never stops asking. It is annoying sometimes." The mother said with a soft smile while she held his boy to his arm for him to stand and ushered him to his bed.
"No worries, ma'am," Lance replied. "I can see myself in him. The inquisitive boy never stops learning."
"You are saying that it is a good thing?" The mother said.
"Definitely! In this age, we should have more information to gain more privileges from our Government."
"Privileges from the Government? Are there such things?" The mother responded with a frown. "You are blinded, kid - blinded by the lies of their Government and the Corporation." Her voice had conviction. She had a lot to say about the Corporation and she would spill it like anti-religion if challenged.
"I am just taking one step at a time at revealing the lies they spread amongst the citizens and into the world." Lance sighed. His vision was larger than any commoner would comprehend.
"How would you do that? You are a lot ahead of yourself, kid." The mother chuckled.
"Become an Industrialist, ma'am," Lance said, seriousness never left his face.
She laughed at that. And moments after, the tension between them became dull. She kept little old toys scattered on the floor in a box. They do not have the luxury of having robotic toys like the middle-class citizens had.
They had muddy action figures from ancient times, while the top echelon kids had their AI action figures that really could interact and make conversations like a real superhero.
"They only want total genocide to the useless citizens of this country." She said as Lance was almost at the precipice of sleep. "Citizens like us that do not dwell on the divinity of science." The mother tucked his child into his bed and bid Lance good night.
"You said lies. What do you think is the truth?" Lance asked and the Mother held her stare at him for a moment and continued to pat his child.
"Well, we all know that the Corporation does not really support the citizens. They only supported themselves - the middle class and the privileged."
"You only know half of it." Lance retorted.
"Ok, kid. What is the whole truth? Does it include the corruption, the control of resources, the control of privileges, the unfair tax collections, and the rise of prices?" The mother elaborated.
"What you said is obvious, ma'am," Said Lance, recollecting everything his father had told him. "What about the killings, the population control, and the mass murders?"
"What do you mean?"
"I can't really elaborate though it is a possibility."
"A possibility" The mother nodded. "You have a lot of issues inside of you waiting for them to implode. You have a lot of skeletons in your closet, thus, make that your weapon. And you are talking dangerously, kid. In any case, you may be one of us." The mother concluded.
An awkward silence intervened.
"What about the Abominant that you released to lay waste aboveground?" Lance asked, a little annoyed as he remembered a dreadful memory. He could hear the screams of the unfortunate collateral during the attack.
"What are you talking about, kid?" The mother asked as she turned off the burner that made hot tea. She then gently poured the aromatic liquid into an empty mug. "You think that we are responsible for the Wolf?"
"It is probable, yes." Lance held his stare to the Mother. His sleepiness had faded. "The only access from the outside to the inside is underneath these walls. And the rebels controlled the underground.
"What a dreadful thought! We cannot do such a thing." The Mother held her teacup though she did not sip immediately. She let the hot boiling water simmer down to an acceptable temperature.
"Why don't you ask Jefferson?" The Mother continued. "He seemed to vouch for you and know the story of your father."
She did not know. Lance was sure that the rebels had only access from the outside to the inside through the tunnels. It was maybe that Jefferson had this plan all by himself with trusted others just to mask the truth from his innocent comrades.
He was not sure of Jefferson's involvement, but only he could probably orchestrate such an attack.
Lance was certain though. He was 100% sure that one of the rebels had made one Abominant come through the tunnels from the outside and into the City streets.
'A traitor in their midst?' Lance deduced and not that farfetched.
"Do you know my father?" His voice streaked as if breaking his train of thought.
The mother sipped her tea after a few gentle blows. She relaxed against a wooden chair with a deep sigh. Relaxation was a commodity. A wooden chair was rare at that time. Then, there were hanging moments of silence.
Lance waited for her answer though she seemed not to care.
"Yes. I have met him once. He sparked a little motivation in this group of ours." She finally said as she finished her tea. She opened her bedding and patted a minute of fog dust from it.
"How so?"
"You will know it kid if you linger longer in this collection of misdirected men. You have a big day ahead, tomorrow. The Axiom Trench is not a place to play games with."
"Well, Damian is my guide tomorrow."
"Even so, he cannot ensure your safety."
Lance only smiled at that and slept while the nearby drippings from the pipes overhead splat against the ground like music. It was maybe the sound of rain; Lance trained his thought with a world with bright skies and birds chirped, migrating from distant trees, and the trees swayed against a strong gale.
'A magnificent scenery.'
'As others might say, there is an opportunity during the worst economy.' Lance thought. Such opportunity was knocking from the outside of the walls.
Such massive treasure awaited his curious mind.
That night, Lance slept soundly. Despite the fact and knowing the qualms they would face tomorrow, beyond the walls, to the Axiom Trench, had given him vivid nightmares.