“Of course.”
“The Estates seized control during the government’s weakness after the war. They overthrew tyrants and became tyrants themselves. And you really think that Chimera won’t do the same?”
“They’re good people.”
“I’ve seen Hyperion’s service records from the war. The man was a hero. A good person. Yet he sits on a throne of skulls. Power corrupts good men.”
“That won’t happen with Chimera. They’ll give the power to the people.”
“That’s what the old government did. At first. No one wants things like this to happen. They just do.”
“It’ll be different this time.”
“Doubt it,” he said with a sigh. “If the people have all the power, you have chaos. There needs to be some people in power. Eventually that power grows. It could take centuries, but it always happens.”
“How do you know this? That world is gone. Whatever they did is gone. How can you know it always happens when we know so little about them? Through fire, we’ve been given a new world. I don’t think we’ll make those mistakes again. We’re surrounded by the failure of those who came before us. It will keep us in line.”
“Maybe.”
“Like I said, you’re very cynical.”
And you’re naive, Rocco thought. But he kept silent.
* * *
The dead, dusty landscape crawled past Myers and the Chimera members. They were silent nearly the whole time. Myers didn’t blame them, nor did he interrupt their silence, except to ask where they were headed.
“Thunderbolt Peak,” one said. “Our main headquarters. We’ll stop by L.A. for supplies and better transportation.”
Myers tried to sleep, but fire and ash filled the back of his eyelids. He kept his eyes open to the hot, arid dirt. He knew sleep would eventually overtake him and visions of death and screaming would wake him again. He sighed.
A few hours later, they reached Los Angeles and took the draisine off the tracks. Myers couldn’t help but marvel. It was the biggest city he’d ever seen. As they passed through the gate, he saw people moving up and down the streets, bikes racing past on the way to something important, buildings taller than he’d ever imagined. He heard people shouting, selling their wares. The place was alive, and this was only a small portion of it.
“Welcome to L.A.,” the woman said. “Biggest town in the Estate. Stick with us. Pretty easy to get lost here.”
He looked around, all at once amazed and terrified. “This place is incredible,” he said.
She smiled. “Apparently, there are bigger cities in the other Estates. Try to stay focused. Don’t want you getting lost.” She was walking at a quick pace. He hurried to keep up with her.
“Where are we going?”
“My brothers are going to get supplies. I’m taking you to one of our outposts here. If you still want to join, they’ll initiate you.”
“Those guys were your brothers?”
She laughed. “Hard to believe, right? Not much of a resemblance. But yeah. Erik was the leader of the Corona outpost, and Jak was the one who said who we were.” Her voice lowered as she said this.
“And he said you’re Hellen, right?”
“Yep. Oh! I’m sorry, we never asked for your name.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. You had more important things on your mind. Name’s Myers.”
“Glad to have you with us, Myers. It’s right over here.”
They walked into a restaurant. Hellen told the girl at the counter that she had a complaint for the manager. The girl said to wait in his office, through a door in the back.
“Hellen!” the manager said. “So good to see you again.” He shook her hand. “And who’s this? New recruit?”
“Yes. This is Myers.”
The manager shook his hand. “Where you from, Myers?”
“Oceanside. I was the foreman of the mine there.”
Hellen looked at him, mouth half open, but looked away quickly.
“Well, let’s go down to the base and we’ll get you initiated, all right?”
There was no ceremony, no pomp, no extravagance. The few people in the underground base paid little attention. Myers took an oath to follow orders and dedicate himself both to the security of Chimera and the destruction of the Estates.
“You know why we’re called Chimera?” the manager asked. Myers shook his head. “It’s an old story, many ages ago. There was a great beast, with three heads. One of a lion, one of a goat, and one of a dragon. It was a beat of fire and poison, deadly to see and deadlier to fight. The heads signify each of the Estates that we must overthrow. The lion is Polus, the goat Hyperion, and the dragon Themis. We take their form as a symbol of opposition. To fight fire with fire, so to speak.”
“Beleros is full of old stories,” Hellen said with a grin.
Beleros chuckled. “They’re important, I think. Another tale, about L.A.–”
“Here we go,” said Hellen.
“Los Angeles is an old language for the City of Angels. Kind of ironic, since Hyperion has such a big influence here.”
“Hey, much as I love listening to you talk of the pre-war world, I’ve got to get going. And I’m sure Myers needs to rest.”
Myers cringed. The thought of sleep was revolting. But Beleros took him to a room with a few beds and left him alone. Myers sat on the edge of the bed for a few hours before he unwillingly fell back and dreamed of death.
* * *
John was drunk, his head on a table. He had failed Hyperion. His partner, who was with him for so many years, was dead. The word “FIRED” had blinked across his wristband, and he knew what that meant. He was lost. Had no idea what to do.
“Excuse me, sir. You John?” A man pushed John’s shoulder. He looked up. The man was almost definitely a bounty hunter. One hand was on his gun.
John stood up and used the table to keep his balance. “Yeah. John.”
“Mr. Hyperion wants to have a few words with you.”
John laughed a pained, wheezing laugh. In one quick move, he snapped the man’s wrist before he could pull out his gun. He kicked him in the stomach and sent him back into the bar counter. John walked up and snapped his neck before the man could pull his knife.
The bar was silent. John breathed heavily and stumbled out the door. He knew Hyperion would probably not forgive him. But his mind was made up.
He was going to kill Nyriki Rocco if it was the last thing he ever did.
