9 – The Father (OLD)

Disclaimer
The likeness of Michael Kramer is used in this project through AI-generated technology. Please note that Michael Kramer did not record any audio for this content, and his voice is not being used for any monetary gain. The rights to Michael Kramer’s voice and likeness do not belong to Redmatter Creations. Furthermore, the voice and likeness of Michael Kramer will not be used in the final product.

According to long lost studies found, astronomists found that other distant planets have a different weather pattern.

From the Journal of Azura Seren. -Turseno section, 28th rotation

Interlude:

Oberon

Oberon watches Caelius’ body go limp and fall to the soft soil underneath. “Caelius!” he yells, sprinting over to him. He must be suffering from hypothermia. He presses his fingers against his cold neck, checking his pulse. Bum—Bum—Bum. The rhythm is way too slow.

Caelius’ lips are purple and his face is completely devoid of color. “Oh light what do I do?” He whispers to himself. “Caelius, get up.” He slaps his face slightly. He does not respond. He needs Hadrian right away. His mind races to action and he lifts Caelius up and carries him over his shoulders. He ensures that Caelius’ crossbow is with them before he stalks back toward the camp.

Caelius’ body is cold and wet. The water soaked into his clothes making him almost twice as heavy. But that was no issue for Oberon. This is why they both hunt together. In case one of them couldn’t make it back.

What about Mattias? He was starting to show some real growth. He apologized and promised to change his ways. Can he still save him?

No. He needs to save who he can right now. Even if that means himself. He’s just relieved that he can hopefully help Caelius. But he needs medical attention as soon as possible.

Oberon runs as fast as possible with a 250-pound man on his shoulders. His back, where he got shot with an arrow, ached. It began to scab over but is still fresh.

Caelius grumbles. “Mmmmoberon?”

“I gotcha buddy, don’t worry.”

“I killed him, Oberon.” He mumbles, “He could have lived but I kicked him away.”

“You did whatchu had to do to live. It’s not your fault.” Caelius grumbles something incomprehensible and goes limp again.

***

Oberon’s legs and back are on fire when he returns to Hollyard. He is no longer running. Gotta make it to Doc Stellas. He stumbles, feeling like he is walking through honey.

He is just in earshot of the camp. “Medic!” he yells as loud as he can. If one person could hear him, they’d alert the others. “Medic! Doctor! Help!”

The people-shaped blobs in the distance begin scrambling. 4 members sprint to Oberon and the others flee to alert Doc Stella and Hadrian. When they arrive, Oberon slings Caelius off of his shoulder and the four men catch him and carry him the rest of the way.

The missing weight feels freeing. Oberon felt like he was on the moon like he could jump four feet in the air. That’s if his legs weren’t sore as darkness. He takes a deep breath.

Caelius is in their hands now. He can finally rest. Hopefully he will be okay.

***

Oberon walks through his front door and is immediately greeted by Brena. “Daddy!” she yells and gives him a hug. He nearly topples over.

“Hey bug,” he says, placing a hand on her head. “How was your day?”

“My day was good. Mommy and I painted!”

“Oh yeah? Show me!” Brena sprints to the other room, her blonde hair bobbing as she runs off. She is so pure of heart. She doesn’t deserve to live in a world this terrible.

After a moment she runs back holding something clattering in her hands. She opens her hands and reveals a couple of very colorful rocks, before dumping them all in Oberon’s hands.

“Oh wow, these are so pretty.” He moves all the rocks over to one of his large hands and grabs the top one thoroughly inspecting it. It’s a landscape of a field of trees with the sun cresting the horizon. The sun has a little smiley face on it. To many others, it’s just another painted rock. To Oberon, its everything.

He examines the next rock from his palm. This one is barely painted but has text written on it. ‘I love Daddy,’ it says with a little heart underneath. Oberon feels his eyes water up. If anything happened to this tiny person, Oberon would feel lost forever. Is that how Lyria feels? He couldn’t imagine his life without Brena.

He will do what he can to protect her in this evil world. A world with cannibals, raiders, and rapists. He signed up for that job when he became a father.

“I’m sorry I exploded on you earlier.” Dolora’s voice says from next to him. She stands in a doorframe with her arms crossed.

“It’s okay,” Oberon says, feeling a tear roll down his cheek. “It’s just been hard lately. For Caelius and I.”

“It’s been hard for me too.” She sighed. “I just feel like I’m the only one raising our daughter.”

This admission hurts worse than being shot with an arrow. She’d been feeling this way for a long time—holding it in until it boiled over. It’s unfair that she has to do that alone. It’s unfair that Oberon doesn’t get to see her daughter all the time. But he has responsibilities.

“What do you mean by that?” Oberon chokes. Doesn’t she realize all that he does for them? For The Brightest?

“You’re never here. You’re always missing, out on some adventure with your pal. I just need you to—”

Oberon cuts her off. “I provide for this family. I provide for The Brightest. I can’t just stop hunting. Everyone would starve!”

“I’m not asking you to stop hunting,” Dolora cries out. I’m asking you to be more present with your Daughter—with me.”

“Caelius would have died if I wasn’t out there with him.” He says, “We have to go together to make sure we both return safely!” Oberon’s mouth feels salty. A tear had snuck in between his lips.

“Oberon please, I just need to know I’m not alone in this. Raising a child is hard! It’s very hard.” Dolora begins crying too. “You would know if you were present more.”

His emotions go from sad to angry. “Woman!” he shouts. Brena shrinks before running off, scared. She hates it when her dad yells. Oberon thinks about dialing it back, but he is in too deep. “I put my life on the line to make sure you two are safe. Caelius nearly died today and you’re upset because I’m out of the house for a little bit too long? Do you understand how stupid and selfish that sounds? I can’t believe you would insinuate that I do not love you two. Because I do!”

“I didn’t say that!” Dolora shouts back. “You always take my words out of context and twist them to fit your own agenda!”

“Well, you—” Oberon is cut off by the sound of a horn. The vibrations shake the house and they are both silent. Raiders. He meets her eyes.

“Go!” She yells.

Oberon grabs his crossbow and runs outside. The air feels like static, and people are fleeing frantically, heading back into their own homes, where they believe they’re safe.

Are Dolora and Brena going to be safe? He shouldn’t leave them alone. He can’t think about that right now. He has a job to do and that is to protect. Hadrian, Lew, Reyus, and Efram are all standing in front of the tree. Each one has their own sword. Oberon and Caelius are the only ones who use crossbows. And Caelius is in recovery right now.

Hadrian seems to be surprised at Oberon’s arrival, “Ah, good to see you came to help,” The man says. “Reports say that a small group of raiders are funneling in from the north-east, north, and north-west.” Hadrian swings his finger in those directions.

At that moment, a man appears from the side of a house, charging at them. It isn’t the smartest move the raider could have made because Oberon lifts his crossbow, aiming at the attacker, and pulls the trigger. It doesn’t fire. There isn’t even a bolt loaded into it. Oberon had been too panicked to even load his weapon. Luckily, Efram sinks his sword into the man’s chest.

“That wasn’t very smart of him,” Oberon says.

“It’s a drone,” Reyus replies, “Seeing how we would react. They have eyes on us.”

Hadrian takes the initiative, “Efram, Oberon. You two station over there, shoot any ranged raiders that you can see since you have a crossbow.” He points toward an intersection in the road, where they should be able to defend from attackers from any angle. “Reyus, Lew. You guys buddy up and station over there and I will stay here in the center defending the residences. If you hear me calling, return immediately.”

The men split, running off in different directions. Oberon and Efram don’t even make it to the intersection before being attacked by two raiders. Luckily, Oberon was ready this time and unleashed a bolt into a raider’s bare chest.

Was it bare? It looked like naked human skin had been placed on top of his current clothes, acting as some kind of armor. Regardless, the raider does not fall and instead barrels toward Oberon. It leaps on him in the same fashion the last raider leaped on him. Efram shoves him off with his boot and sticks his broadsword into the raider’s chest.

This distraction cost Efram time to react before the second raider jammed a bone knife into his shoulder. He screams in pain and the raider pulls his knife downward. Instead of cutting, the action throws Efram to the ground. Oberon is fast with his hands, efficiently reloading his crossbow, and launches his next bolt into the raider’s head.

He drops limply. Oberon reaches a hand out and Efram lifts himself up with his help. “Damn it,” Efram swears before pulling the bone knife from his shoulder. It clatters on the ground when he drops it. Blood stains Efram’s clothing around the wound. “Keep your eye out,” He warns.

Oberon had killed his first person. He thought it would feel different, but instead, he feels relief. Caelius seemed to take it really rough. Oberon thought he’d feel the same way when it was his turn. Living in a world like this one, Oberon’s surprised that they haven’t had to kill more people.

He doesn’t have any time to reflect before an arrow buries itself into the dirt next to him. This arrow is as thick as the one that shot him a couple of days ago. Oberon traces back from where the arrow should have been shot. He has to find the archer quickly because they won’t make the same mistake twice. Oberon scans the rooftops. Nothing. They could be hiding behind the apex of the roofs, but there wasn’t much time. He notices a rustling in the bushes in between two houses. The archer is practically invisible, wearing a ghillie suit.

Oberon raises his crossbow and releases an arrow toward the attacker. Oberon doesn’t miss and his bolt implants itself between the raider’s eyes. Unfortunately, the bow in the raider’s hand released it’s projectile at the same time, flying through the air at deadly speeds before impaling Efram in the chest.

“NO” Oberon screams, running over to his companion. The man falls back spitting blood. “It’s okay buddy, I’ll get you some medical attention.” Oberon grabs his hand, squeezing it tight. Efram tries to speak but the words come out as blubbering noises.

The arrow is in a very unfortunate area. It missed his heart but instead impaled a lung. It would be impossible for him to recover. Oberon tries to get him medical attention anyway.

Deja vu washes over Oberon as he cries out, “Medic! Medic, please! This man is dying!” Except this time, no one comes. Efram coughs again, spitting blood into Oberon’s face.

“It’s okay,” The dying man says, “You did what you could.”

Oberon doesn’t accept this, “No, don’t you go! Please, just stay alive a little longer, PLEASE!” He cries out, squeezing Efram’s hand even harder.

His eyes stare off into the distance, despite Oberon’s pleading. Efram does not move. Oberon tastes blood and tears. Is that his blood? Or Efram’s?

You did what you could. Efram’s voice echoes in his mind. Did he? Maybe if he was faster, he could have saved his life. He’s going to have to live with the idea that he did what he could—and it wasn’t enough.