Katherine: Saviour of Kings; Friend to the Oppressed
The world is changing. The university lives in quiet terror, haunted by a nameless fear. Little by little, the Dark Ones have infiltrated every part of the infrastructure, and for many it is no longer safe to be seen on campus. Soon their rule will be absolute, and all that the generations have built and worked for will be lost. 
In the administrative wing, a desperate band of rebels holds out the last vestige of resistance to the inexorable will of the Dark Ones. Hiding under office desks and in forgotten tutorial rooms in the upper levels, aided by the sympathy of some courageous administrative assistants, they live as shadows, coming and going unseen, preparing for the last stand.
Among the rebels, Katherine is not the bravest or the greatest or the strongest, but she has not forgotten the taste of freedom, and she will see it restored or die in the attempt. Today that fate may be decided. King Theoden has been captured on suspicion of treason against the rising New Order. He will certainly be tortured for information, and the rebels cannot risk the discovery of their base. It is now or never. A plan is forged. With unspoken farewells in their eyes, the rebels part ways, scattering across the campus, each to his own mission.
Crawling through dusty attics, creeping along vast concrete corridors, Katherine and her two comrades make their silent way towards their planned outpost in the parking building. From the roof, they will be able to send signals to the party that is preparing to ambush the central office, where Theoden is almost certainly being held. Looking cautiously over her shoulder, Katherine pushes the elevator button, and the three step inside. No one speaks as the elevator climbs towards level 12.
With a soft 'ding' the doors open at level 11. The comrades swallow their panic as they find themselves face to face with a group of soldiers guarding a beaten prisoner. "It's them!" yells one of the soldiers, but the prisoner, with a last burst of strength, fights them off. "Go!" he yells, hitting the 'close doors' button. They see his bloody face for a brief moment between the closing doors. It's Aragorn. Katherine's heart sinks as the doors click shut. A gunshot is heard as the elevator starts to climb.
Level 12. Doors open, and before the comrades can take in the scene, a body is thrown in. Katherine catches it. The doors are closing again, and suddenly the elevator is plummeting downwards. The body rouses, and Theoden raises his head to thank the girl for breaking his fall. "Theoden!" she cries. "What's happening up there?" "It's over," he says, voice cracked and broken with grief. "They were too many. The university is lost. Your friends fought bravely." The comrades look at one another, and hang their heads. "Is there anyone left?" asks one of the party. Theoden shakes his grey head. "I must turn myself in, for I have been the cause of this bloodshed. You three may be able to live under cover in this new world. Perhaps in time the rebellion will grow strong again." "We will not abandon you, oh King," cry the comrades.
The doors open in the basement. There is no time to think. Katherine stuffs the King into her handbag. She will think about the physics of this later. Now they must run.
* * *
Years pass. The university that once was is utterly destroyed, and in its place stands a dark, muddy commune. Few now remember that there was once an old order. Thousands of workers pass their days slogging through the muck, carving up the land into strange angular shapes, planting and harvesting. The peop
le think they are happy, because they do not know that they are slaves. They have forgotten how to think.
Katherine and her two comrades keep their heads down. Their eyes never meet when they cross each other's paths. They cannot risk discovery, after all these years of feigned loyalty to their overlords. But there is a quiet surge of hope whenever they are near one another, for they know it is growing again. Theoden is safe, in the underground cave they have built for him. Little by little, he is working by secret means to restore the knowledge that has been lost, training disciples, writing a new library, and the number of secret converts is growing steadily. Under the ever-watchful eyes of their masters, the Three use all their cunning to find ways to communicate their message to the many who are lost. At any moment they may be discovered, but the memory of their fallen friends gives them courage.
Now there is an electricity in the air. Now their years of labour are bearing fruit. It cannot be long.
[that was my dream last night. padded out a little in the places I can't quite remember, and made rather more coherent than it was at the time. yeah.]
In the administrative wing, a desperate band of rebels holds out the last vestige of resistance to the inexorable will of the Dark Ones. Hiding under office desks and in forgotten tutorial rooms in the upper levels, aided by the sympathy of some courageous administrative assistants, they live as shadows, coming and going unseen, preparing for the last stand.
Among the rebels, Katherine is not the bravest or the greatest or the strongest, but she has not forgotten the taste of freedom, and she will see it restored or die in the attempt. Today that fate may be decided. King Theoden has been captured on suspicion of treason against the rising New Order. He will certainly be tortured for information, and the rebels cannot risk the discovery of their base. It is now or never. A plan is forged. With unspoken farewells in their eyes, the rebels part ways, scattering across the campus, each to his own mission.
Crawling through dusty attics, creeping along vast concrete corridors, Katherine and her two comrades make their silent way towards their planned outpost in the parking building. From the roof, they will be able to send signals to the party that is preparing to ambush the central office, where Theoden is almost certainly being held. Looking cautiously over her shoulder, Katherine pushes the elevator button, and the three step inside. No one speaks as the elevator climbs towards level 12.
With a soft 'ding' the doors open at level 11. The comrades swallow their panic as they find themselves face to face with a group of soldiers guarding a beaten prisoner. "It's them!" yells one of the soldiers, but the prisoner, with a last burst of strength, fights them off. "Go!" he yells, hitting the 'close doors' button. They see his bloody face for a brief moment between the closing doors. It's Aragorn. Katherine's heart sinks as the doors click shut. A gunshot is heard as the elevator starts to climb.
Level 12. Doors open, and before the comrades can take in the scene, a body is thrown in. Katherine catches it. The doors are closing again, and suddenly the elevator is plummeting downwards. The body rouses, and Theoden raises his head to thank the girl for breaking his fall. "Theoden!" she cries. "What's happening up there?" "It's over," he says, voice cracked and broken with grief. "They were too many. The university is lost. Your friends fought bravely." The comrades look at one another, and hang their heads. "Is there anyone left?" asks one of the party. Theoden shakes his grey head. "I must turn myself in, for I have been the cause of this bloodshed. You three may be able to live under cover in this new world. Perhaps in time the rebellion will grow strong again." "We will not abandon you, oh King," cry the comrades.
The doors open in the basement. There is no time to think. Katherine stuffs the King into her handbag. She will think about the physics of this later. Now they must run.
* * *
Years pass. The university that once was is utterly destroyed, and in its place stands a dark, muddy commune. Few now remember that there was once an old order. Thousands of workers pass their days slogging through the muck, carving up the land into strange angular shapes, planting and harvesting. The peop
le think they are happy, because they do not know that they are slaves. They have forgotten how to think.Katherine and her two comrades keep their heads down. Their eyes never meet when they cross each other's paths. They cannot risk discovery, after all these years of feigned loyalty to their overlords. But there is a quiet surge of hope whenever they are near one another, for they know it is growing again. Theoden is safe, in the underground cave they have built for him. Little by little, he is working by secret means to restore the knowledge that has been lost, training disciples, writing a new library, and the number of secret converts is growing steadily. Under the ever-watchful eyes of their masters, the Three use all their cunning to find ways to communicate their message to the many who are lost. At any moment they may be discovered, but the memory of their fallen friends gives them courage.
Now there is an electricity in the air. Now their years of labour are bearing fruit. It cannot be long.
[that was my dream last night. padded out a little in the places I can't quite remember, and made rather more coherent than it was at the time. yeah.]
posted by Kat | 8/10/2008 01:51:00 pm
6 Comments:
It bears a certain resemblance to an earlier piece of your writing (viz. muddy communes). Are you writing a fantasy novel in your subconscious?
Ah, those trusty admin assistants. I think you'd be surprised to know you can almost always count on them to help the weak in fights against Management oops I meant the Dark Ones :)
I have to say, I love the idea of being able to fold a character up and put them in your handbag. Saves on bus fares...
F: yes it does rather, and it's weird in both cases since technically I like the idea of communes. Maybe my subconscious is warning me about the dangers.
C: hm, I wonder if the handbag thing came from that Vodofone ad where the dude folds up his girlfriend and puts her in his pocket.
NOOOOOO! ARAGOOORRRN!
Heh. I was totally thinking of the vodafone ad when I read that! Have you ever considered writing as career? I must say after yesterday I was feverishly anticipating reading this and I am pleased to say I was not dissapointed. BOOM!
disappointed*
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