Tonedeaf: Part 5

We interrupt our regular broadcast to +++ NO SIGNAL +++ foreign broadcast of unknown origin interfering with the Harmony +++ NO SIGNAL +++ stay where you are while we restore balance +++


Kay tripped over her feet as she ran out of the Feathered Crown. Her head felt like it was being curdled. Through watery eyes she saw Mac walking ahead of her down the street. Around her the ground was littered with broken glass, cars ground to a halt and people were just standing around looking upwards while this unholy scream was thumping out of every Amplifier.

“Wait!” Kay called after Mac. Her body didn't seem to be working properly, she felt like she was going to collapse from exhaustion. Frantically, she wondered what the scream was doing to her.

She felt a hand under her arm. Mac lifted her to her feet and started to guide her down the street forcibly."You're quite determined, aren't you?"

**

The Herald was standing in the courtyard at the front of the Monastery. Erith watched from the shadows as the giant moved around, examining the flowerbeds and the wishing well.

Do you know what I miss most of all?

Erith's heart leaped into his throat as he scrambled back into the shadows. Was he talking to him? There was a murmur from the other side of the courtyard - Erith squinted - he couldn't see who was talking.

Green.

Erith breathed a sigh of relief. There was another murmur.

Everything green. Plants I particularly like. I will enjoy building a garden and filling it with flowers and trees.

Erith shimmied around at the sound of approaching footsteps. It was Brother Pica, looking shaken and distracted.

"Y-your excellency," he stammered, looking resolutely at the ground. Pica looked terrified. Erith wondered what it took to un-hinge the great Brother.

Good. How are your Brothers?

"Recovering in the chapel, Herald."

You will all have to be adjusted. Your reaction to the Call was most disappointing.

"I don't understand."

Don't you remember the Texts, Brother? You embarrass yourself. The Herald was running his hands across the flowers, sampling their fragrance. 'And the faithful will be singled out by the great Call and rewarded with Paradise. Those who fall will be Damned.'

Erith watched as Brother Pica wilted visibly, the strength seeming to fall from his shoulders.

You understand now, good Brother? You have strayed from the path that was laid out for you. You left the City that your gracious Masters gave to you. This Monastery you have founded has made you weak. You have all broken the Dictates of Harmony.

"We wanted to strengthen our faith by removing distractions - we thought this was what they wanted." Brother Pica replied, his voice hollow.

All They want is for their children to live in Harmony. You disobeyed, and you have paid the price.

"Forgive us," Brother Pica muttered, his voice hushed. He was sobbing.

Forgiveness. That I cannot grant, our mutual Masters have very particular ideas concerning right and wrong.

"W-What will you do?"

I will do what needs to be done.

There was a long, drawn out silence between the Herald and Pica. In a burst of anguish, Pica broke down and fell to his knees. "I beg you -forgive me! Please. I'll do anything. Let me, please. I will do anything you ask!"

I believe you, Brother. The Herald walked over to the wishing well and picked a penny out of the water. You will be forgiven, if you submit to an adjustment.

"Anything - anything," Pica muttered, blubbering in the dirt. Erith looked away, he couldn't bear to look at the man degrade himself.

Good.

**

Mac closed the man-hole cover behind Kay as they both descended into the sewers. He held her under the shoulders as they advanced into the network of tunnels. She found it increasingly difficult to walk through the sludge beneath her feet.

Mac eventually led her to a junction where they stopped. How long it had taken them to get there, she wasn't sure. Every now and then she seemed to fade in and out of reality. Every time she realised where she was, the smell would hit her she'd begin to convulse. Several times Mac jammed something in between her clenched teeth and forced her to swallow.

Slowly, sanity returned to her and the fever began to pass. Although what replaced it felt like euphoric drunkenness.

"What have you done to me?" She whispered, deliriously.

"Jacked you up on Din, isn't that what you wanted?" Mac replied, concentrating on the wall in the low, gloomy light. "You'll thank me in a little while."

Suddenly, the wall swung open and a new tunnel was revealed. It was strongly lit with intense blue lights and the smell of bleach cut through the excrement like a knife.

Mac maneuvered Kay into the new tunnel and followed her in. Safely inside, the door swung closed. They were standing in a knee high bath of cleaning solution.

"Step forward." A voice over an intercom instructed. They did as they were told. The tunnel then proceeded to clean them with a series of showers. Sufficiently drenched and recovered by the end of the experience, Kay was just about ready to kill when she was handed a fluffy warm towel and some clean clothes.

After changing, she was led into a low-ceilinged chamber where a group of assembled misfits were gathered on mess hall benches and tables. They were all watching her. Mac stepped forward.

"Welcome," he said, scratching his head.

"And you say she'd built up a partial resistance?" A gruff looking man eyed her skeptically but spoke to Mac.

"She chased me down the street while everyone else stared up at the sky like morons. Yeah, she resisted all right." Mac replied.

"What's going on?"

"Can't you guess? We're the face of evil. The scum who've been polluting the streets and lower nests with Din and raves and debauchery and sin." Mac replied, stepping forward. "We're what classical literature refers to as a 'resistance cell'."

Kay nodded, "I know this might sound like a really stupid question, so forgive me in advance, but... a resistance to what?"

"Spoken like a true sheep." The gruff man spat, standing up and walking off.

"Sorry - what's a sheep?"

"Have you ever wondered where the Harmony comes from, or what it does? Have you ever read too much into the Texts and found strange links between words which were supposedly written thousands of years ago, and now? Well, you're looking at all the people who ever did." Mac waved at the people standing around him. "We were demoted, fired, seconded, downgraded - all in an effort to shut us up. Over the years we've taken stock of our situation, gathered resources and paved the way for a Brighter Future." He continued with an ironic smile.

"A Brighter Future..."

"One of the many slogans we're fed on since birth, as our resident Psychologist will tell you. He was silenced for conducting research into what were deemed 'heretical theories'; or, in other words, whether or not the Harmony is brainwashing us." Mac continued.

Kay sat down on one of the benches. The screech had left her weak, but the realisation that these people were her only hope made her feel worse.

"We've been preparing for this day for a very long time; working with the outsiders to get people out of the city. Unfortunately, the young were the only people who paid any attention to our 'wild theories'. That did nothing for our PR, I can tell you." Mac said, sitting down next to her. "What all this boils down to is this: we think the Ancient Texts are bit too prophetic to be just prophecy. There is evidence to support the theory that our civilisation has been staged. By whom, we don't know, there are theories for that too. The screaming we heard earlier - we believe that is what the Texts refer to as the Call. If this is true, then the Herald has arrived on Earth and what comes next is the Last War."

"An Age of Prophecy," Kay whispered, thinking of all the bill-boards advertising new estates. All those slogans.

"The Harmony, as far as we're concerned, is a means of controlling the masses."

"What if you're wrong?"

"Then we'll all look very stupid."

The ground shook - what sounded like thunder could be heard in the distance. Dust fell from the ceiling.

"You aren't wrong, are you?" Kay asked, meekly.

"We don't think so." Mac smiled, patting her on shoulder gently.

**

It was night and the stars were out, framed by the circle of trees in the clearing. Jon was staring up. The full moons were bright tonight, Luna One glowing white and Luna Two glowing grey.

Jon looked down at the ruins of the Museum. The people of the camp were gathered within its broken walls, fires were lit and the feeling of excitement and dread in the air was palpable.

"Come on, let's get her out," Walter muttered. Jon and Sol turned to the off-road beast and grabbed the ends of the enormous cryo tube. As they slid it out, the moonlight shone down onto the pale, round face of the girl sleeping within. A countdown was flashing on the mounted panel, ticking down to when the tube was ready to open.

They carried her across the clearing towards the gathering. The crowd hushed down as they approached and watched as they placed her unevenly on the foundation stone.

Walter took a step forward to address the gathering.

"We all know why we're here." He began, scanning the crowd. "This day hardly needs any introduction. If the Rain of Fire wasn't hint enough, then the noise we heard across the Harmony earlier was proof. The Call has gone out and now decisions must be made."

Jon looked at Sol who was standing very near Walter as he addressed the audience. Beyond, faces flickered in the crowd, lit by the light of the fires.

"If we're right, then what will come next is the Swift Justice. It's too late to consider loved ones back in the city, chances are the Harmony has done its job and now they are beyond our immediate help." Walter, who had at times seemed very sanctimonious to Jon, was a natural leader. "We will do what we can for them in time, but now we need to consider ourselves. As I see it, we have two choices. We can either stay here and re-establish contact with our people in the city and fight; or we can run, establish a colony elsewhere and begin a new life."

"We can't go anywhere," a face called from the crowd, one of the older ones, "We can't run. We have to stay. There is nowhere for us to go."

The crowd murmured its agreement. Walter smiled, nodding along with them, "I had a feeling that would be your reaction. However, there is something to consider. We all know of the Texts and their significance. We have argued over their truth as prophecy, coincidence or deliberate knowledge of the future. But as some of you know, there is another Text. One that was found in the Wilderness. One which speaks of the individual known as Din."

Jon felt all the eyes in the crowd turn to him, he looked down at the girl in the glass coffin and thought of her, while everyone else wondered about him.

"There are other players too that we are aware of, what their roles may entail we do not know. However, it is my belief that these people should go. We can barely protect ourselves out here." Walter gestured around to the ruins, the trees and the open sky. They were exposed, on the run. Ultimately, they would be found.

"How would we escape? Where would these people go?" The inevitable question was asked by another face in the crowd.

"We found another bunker today," Walter stepped back and stood next to the cryo tube, "In it we found this young lady. Who she is, where she comes from - when she comes from. We do not know. But, we did find a ship with her. A very advanced ship, but one of human design. We think. We believe that an escape could be made in this ship." The crowd was abuzz with chatter and hands went up to speak, Walter waved them down. "The forgotten Text refers to a Red Frontier. We believe that the ship could be made to go there. Wherever it is."

The crowd broke into shouting and talking, Walter struggled to control them but ultimately failed. One of the older ones, a woman with a lined face - Jon recognised her as one of the original team of explorers sent out into the wilderness. "Your plan is very nice Walter, but there are things we need to consider here. Who would go? Who should go? What are the people who stay going to do? And, crucially, I feel, because we're hardly an able body of people - who is going to fly your ship?"

There was a silence, Walter looked around to Jon, who shrugged.

"I will."

The crowd's attention spun to entrance of the ruin. Captain Nithes was standing in the firelight, his arms wrapped around Cho's shoulder. "I'll fly your gods-damned ship."

**

Erith was sitting cross legged in the field, with his back against the wall. He'd been sitting there all day. He'd lost contact with his backside and lower legs a long time ago. All bodily concerns seemed to slip away. This was the turning point. Here was the proof he'd longed to see all these years. Hard evidence was sitting in front of him in the form of the ship the Herald had landed in. Why did he feel empty, then? Why wasn't he euphoric? Perhaps it had something to do with the psychotic effect he had on Pica. Maybe it was the hatchery buried beneath the Monastery and the endless sea of giant eggs. Maybe he just didn't believe after all.

He heard the rejoicing coming from over the wall. They'd broken out the ceremonial wine, it seemed, forgotten their vows for a few hours in celebration of the Call. But why had they all fallen - were they all damned? What did it mean?

The door to the garden burst open and a Monk appeared, one of the young brothers. Not used to alcohol, Erith thought, remembering his school days and the behaviour that had prompted his parents to send him here.

The Brother was clutching his stomach, gasping. The party was going on behind him, louder now. He'd be sick, Erith thought, then stumble back to the party.

But the Brother wasn't sick, he just stood there, clutching his stomach. Erith leaned in - he was shaking. Suddenly, another figure appeared in the doorway.

"There you are," Pica muttered, his voice unmistakable. Erith's blood turned cold. Pica pulled out a long implement. The Brother fell into the dirt, pleading and crying out. But Pica loomed over him, the weapon raised. It was a knife - Erith could see it, but his mind stumbled to comprehend what he was seeing. With swift violence, Pica plunged the knife down into the chest of the Brother while he screamed in the dirt.

There was a moment, an eternal image in Erith's mind where he saw Pica's shoulders rising up and down, his breath heavy and guttural.

"Run Erith."

For a second, Erith didn't register that he'd spoken. But this wasn't the voice of a murderer. This was a scared man.

"Run boy." He spat again. In an instant, Erith was on his feet, stumbling and fleeing into the night. He didn't think, he didn't look back. He just ran.

**

Is that all of them?

"Yes."

Good. You will be adjusted. I'm proud of you Pica, your faith is very strong.

"Thank you."

Now come, we have an appointment to keep with the City.

Pica stood in the moonlight, shaking. Beneath him, the gound seemed to swell deflate. From below, raucous cries could be heard from the earth. Behind him, from the Monastery, he heard the enormous Birds bursting up from the catacombs and taking to the sky. As creature after creature took flight the Monastery fell in on itself burying the dead and swallowing Pica's life with it.

**

"Is this how you treat all of your women?" Kay asked as they moved through the sewer complex.

"Only the ones worth saving."

"How comforting. I'm honoured." She replied making sure her hand never left his.

There was something going on above - the ground hadn't stopped shaking. They didn't have time to wonder what it was. All they could do was run.

"How long do we have?" Mac asked one of the people up ahead.

"About five minutes," The grumpy man replied, referring to a piece of paper covered in scribbles and equations.

"Until what?" Kay asked, dreading the answer.

"One of the little features we found out about the city. Ever wondered why the architecture is all uniform?"

"Not really."

"Well, we did. The city has a funky design feature - it reacts to certain frequencies in different ways. It, like everything else is designed to work in Harmony. The Call, it seems has activated the most esoteric function."

"Dare I even ask?"

Mac laughed, "The city is closing everything down. Locking all the doors, sealing all of the holes. We suspected at first it was designed to be implemented if another city attacked us. We were wrong. Naturally, we planned for this eventuality, but it isn't without its shortcomings."

Kay shuddered.

"Four minutes people - lets move!" Shouted the man up ahead, his voice ringing down the cramped space.

**

Below him, through the transparent bottom of the Herald's ship, Pica could see the city of Avian One. One half jutting into the sea, the other surrounded by the dense Wilderness, ringed in its entirety by the enormous perimeter wall.

Magnificent. The Herald muttered.

Pica looked down at his hands. They were dull red, his sleeves soaked up to the elbows, his habit splattered and messy with blood.

Underneath the ship, descending in formation were the Birds. It was then that he noticed that the City itself was moving, smoke and dust rising into the sky.

"What's happening?"

The people will be judged tonight Brother Pica; their faith tested. We have taken total control of the Harmony. The city is now ours.

"Why is it moving?"

To leave no stone unturned, so that the sinful cannot hide. Pica looked up at the cowled, technicolour beast.

"Why are you doing this?"

The Herald did not respond, it was clear that he was watching the Birds land on rooves, in the streets.

Why? The Herald laughed softly, Because I want my planet back.

**

"You wont have long," Walter shouted back to them as he sat down at the console in the Bunker. Behind him, the ones who were leaving flooded into the cylindrical silo and stared at the ship. "Get everything on board now."

Volunteers swept past - Jon was overseeing the cryo tube with Syd; Captain Nithes was helping Cho mount the gantry into the belly of the ship, others were carrying supplies.

"So much for going back to the city." Jon muttered. Syd looked up and smiled.

"Don't worry. We'll see them again." Syd replied. Jon nodded, lifting the cryo tube onto the gantry and into the ship.

"It all seems to be on a timed, auto setting Captain," Walter spoke into the intercom. There was a short silence.

"I see it."

"Can you work the controls?" Walter asked. There was another silence.

"Yes."

Syd emerged from the belly of the ship and smiled. "Everything is onboard." He nodded.

The ship began to shake as the engines warmed up. "You might want to get out." Captain Nithes's voice boomed over the intercom.

Jon appeared at the hatch and launched himself across the gantry. "You don't escape that easily." He grabbed Syd and bear hugged him. "Take care of him." Jon said, looking at Walter intently. "I've lost him once already."

Walter nodded and Jon let go of his brother. Syd backed away. Jon shook them both by the hand and bid them farewell. "I'll send you a postcard from the Red Frontier." He smiled before disappearing back into the ship.

Onboard, Jon climbed into his seat in the spacious cockpit and strapped himself in. "You ready?" Nithes asked, not waiting for a reply. The ship fired its ignition and began its rapid ascent.

"Are you doing this?" Jon shouted over the noise.

"It's all pre-programmed. I barely have any control." The Captain shouted back.

"Is that good or bad?"

"We'll soon find out."

**

Syd and walter jumped back into the off-road beast as the ship thundered into the heavens overhead.

"They'll be fine." Walter said, without much conviction.

Syd didn't reply, he just followed the ship with his eyes until all that could be seen was a trail of vapour and smoke.

**

Kay and the others emerged from a low tunnel onto a plateau that overlooked the City. They watched as the Birds landed; they watched as the Herald's silver ship landed somewhere in the upper nests; they heard the curious thundering noise rising into the sky and saw the trail of smoke that it left.

They all stood in silence and awe. It took a moment for Kay to realise that they were out in the Wilderness. It was so absurd she had to laugh.

After a moment she lost control of herself and the hilarity of the entire situation dawned of her. The world was coming to an end - certainly her life as she knew it was over - her parents were in the city, her brothers were dead. And all she could do was laugh.

Slowly, the resistance moved its way into the forest, leaving Kay and Mac on the lip of the plateau.

"You're crazy." Mac muttered fondly.

"You're a drug dealer and a scoundrel," Kay replied, wiping the tears from her eyes, chuckling.

They both looked up as the Birds in the city looked up and as one, leaped into the air and flew overhead into the Wilderness.

"Where do you think they're going?" Kay asked.

"The same place we are. To find the other half of the Resistance." Mac replied grimly. He turned around and walked into the forest, leaving Kay with a funny, niggling thought in her head.

"Wait. What other half?" Kay demanded. Spinning around, she followed him into the undergrowth and disappeared after him. Mac's booming laugh could be heard up ahead, growing fainter and fainter.

**

The beast ground to a grassy halt in the clearing. There was no one there.

Syd and Walter leaped out of their seats and looked around. The fires were dying out. There was nothing. No one.

"Where-"

"Sshhhh!" Walter hissed, looking around.

There was a fluttering sound in the darkness - a chirrup.

"Who's there?" Walter asked, stepping forward.

He was answered by a burst of chatter - high, bird-like sounds.

"The Harmony?" Syd whispered.

Walter shook his head. Pairs of yellow, glistening eyes appeared in the darkness. Forked feet stepped forward in the dirt and into the low moonlight. Syd looked down at the ground and saw trails of blood and ominous forms, lingering in shadow.

Walter's hand slipped into Syd's as the Birds advanced towards them.

"Nice knowing you."

"You too."


**

Good Morning Avian One, this is the new voice of the Harmony speaking. You will stay in your homes and await further instructions. Today is a bright new day and we look forward to working closely with you to build a Brighter Future. We are living in an Age of Prophecy and things are changing, but there is no need to be afraid. You will have questions to ask; all of these will be answered in time. We hope you have a nice day.

++ We apologise for the disruptions. Normal service will now resume. Thank you. ++ ++ We apologise for the disruptions. Normal service will now resume. Thank you. ++ ++ We apologise for the disruptions. Normal service will now resume. Thank you. ++ ++ We apologise for the disruptions. Normal service will now resume. Thank you. ++ ++ We apologise for the disruptions. Normal service will now resume. Thank you. ++ ++ We apologise for the disruptions. Normal service will now resume. Thank you. ++ ++ We apologise for the disruptions. Normal service will now resume. Thank you. ++