Beyond The Tribe - alternative and parallel stories by the fans

Tribal Instincts

Episode Sixteen

Lex walked down the corridor to his room in a blind fury. As soon as he got inside he lashed out with his fists at the wardrobe. ‘That scheming little bitch, I’ll…’
‘Before you inflict too much pain on your wardrobe I’d like a word.’ Lex span round to see Ebony casually leaning against the door. ‘Oh and about Enna, I believe you.’
‘Do you know what she’s done? She’s set me up, she planned this, right from square one.’
‘Oh come Lex it wasn’t all her hard work, you helped her.’ Ebony strolled into the room and listed the things on her fingers. ‘Lets see, well firstly you allowed yourself to be totally seduced by her, allowing her to buy time and to make friends with the others. Then you got caught trying to kiss her. Then, you idiot, you got caught threatening her.’ Lex scowled. ‘Oh she’s clever, I’ll give you that. And she’s an amazing actress, she’s only let slip once. You know in the dinning room when she first saw me. I was suspicious from the start. Then I noticed her frequent trips down here. But most of all her act was a little too unbelievable, I don’t know, maybe I’m just skeptical.’ Her voice hardened. ‘Lex we’ve got to stop her. Not for the tribe, not for each other but for ourselves, if she gets the formula before us then… then we’ve lost. And I never lose, Lex.’
He got up off the bed. ‘Well it’s not like I can do much, she never leaves the mall and I’m not allowed in here after tomorrow.’
Ebony wasn’t listening. ‘We’ve got to trap her, prove to the others what she’s really like. Mind you I’d rather hurt her. It would be much simpler too.’
Ebony and Lex talked for hours. The trouble was that she was whiter than white and this little incident with Lex had only given extra gleam to her halo. In the end Ebony had to leave. ‘Where will you go?’ she asked.
‘I have no idea.’
‘Look, I’ll find you a place with Spike and the boys for a bit. As soon as we drag her down, Lex, you’ll be right back on top.’
Ebony left him to get a restless and uneasy night’s sleep and went back to put her mind into gear. She respected Enna, she was smart, calculating and knew exactly how people would behave and react. This would be a challenge, she thought.
From her room on the balcony Enna saw Ebony walk out of Lex’s corridor. As soon as she was out of sight she slipped down the stairs silently and into his room. Lex was in his room throwing things into a pile on his bed.
‘It’s such as shame you have to leave. Just when we were getting to know each other better.’ A triumphant Enna stood in the doorway.
Lex laughed. ‘You know, you’re going to find it really boring here without me. It’s gonna be hell you know, having to keep up that sweet innocent act 24/7’
She moved towards him and put her arms around his neck. ‘You know Lex? I think I will miss you.’
Lex didn’t respond, he just turned his head down to one side away from hers.
‘Don’t be like that Lex. We can still be friends,’ Enna mocked him.
‘You’re really something aren’t you.’
Enna acted coy and giggled. She moved away from him and looked around the room. On the bed she saw some photos. ‘This must be Zandra.’ She waved a photo at him, taken before the virus. ‘You’ve had such an interesting time in the mall haven’t you Lex, I’ve been finding out all about it. Like the time you were stealing the water bottles and when Tai-san slept with you, then when you got the virus and renounced it all telling your wife you only married her to get her into bed! Nice move Lex.’
He moved over and snatched the photo off her. Keen to change the subject he said: ‘So what is the master plan? Now I’m going I might as well know.’
She walked up to him and smiled softly, ‘Lex, really. How stupid do you think I am? Did you think I wouldn’t notice that Ebony was the only one who didn’t vote for you to be thrown out? I know what you and her are up to and you can tell her from me that she’s got no chance. Did I tell you they’ve voted me in as a Mallrat now.’ She held up her arm to show Lex the symbol on the back of her hand. ‘Well I guess I won’t be up to see you leave in the morning so…' she moved in and kissed him lightly on the lips. ‘By the way did I tell you that I’m pregnant?’ Lex stood back to look at her properly. ‘Yes Lex, it’s yours.’

Episode Seventeen

‘Don’t be so stupid Lex.’
Lex looked concerned, he had expected this. Enna had left him dumbfounded and Ebony was the only other person he could talk to about it. ‘What?’ He’d gone too far to have another person confuse him.
‘Lex, how long has she been here?’
‘About ten days.’
‘She can hardly be really sure she’s pregnant in this length of time. She’s just teasing you she has to be.’
Lex looked at little uncertain.
‘Of course…' put in Ebony, ‘she could be pregnant. I don’t know Lex, you tell me.’
‘Yeah, it’s a possibility.’
‘Oh Lex, you fool,’ Ebony shook her head. ‘Come on, get your stuff, I’ve talked to Spike and he’s found you somewhere to stay.’

Enna was back in her room. She just had to put in that last comment, the look on his face was priceless. She knew there was no chance she could ever be pregnant. She can remember when she’d first been told that she’d never have children, she was fourteen. Her mother had cried for her and all the doctors had finished every sentence with the words ‘I’m so sorry.’ It all meant nothing to Enna, she’d never wanted children and she thought she’d never would. Her parents had been really worried about her lack of reaction and the hospital sent her to a psychiatrist to see what was wrong. She never turned up for the sessions and when her parents found out the only way Enna could get them off her back was to break down crying and telling them it was too hard to talk about. That was the first time Enna found a use for her act, over the years she developed it so far sometimes she felt as though she had a multiple personality but underneath she was always laughing, scheming and plotting. The not-being-able-to-get-pregnant thing had its uses too and it wasn’t the first time she’d told a bloke she was pregnant, she’d found out it was the perfect key to respect and fear. It gave Enna enormous power and control over them and that was the one thing she really loved
And now her brother was waiting patiently back at the warehouse for her to come running back with the formula. Fool! She thought, as if she’d let him have it! Once she’d got it she’d have to go far away from this city and find a new one. Then she could take over. The Mallrats had ruined this city by giving it away free. It’s pointless, she thought, unless she could get rid of Tai-san and Bray. ‘On second thoughts, that might be fun.’ Tai-san was really starting to annoy her, Enna didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to keep up the act while Tai-san spouted about ‘auras’, ‘inner peace’ and ‘karma’. Yeah well, thought Enna, if she’s so good at reading people, how come she hasn’t figured out me? Enna had done her homework alright, she could give the medicinal uses of hundreds of herbs and essential oils and just for background, she’d read up on Buddhism.
As she sat in her room she flicked through the papers that Jack had left. A pile of chemical garbage that reminded her of the stuff that dad used to leave lying around the lab at home. Mind you, chemistry was one of the more important subjects Enna had studied. She’d used it several times after the virus and she carried her chemical kit with her all the time. That was when the virus hit and she was moving around, now at the Mall she had nothing, without it she felt insecure. Suddenly her eye caught some of the chemical notation. She couldn’t believe it, her eyes flipped to the heading of the page before and she read in more detail the section. That was it. The formula. She blinked in disbelief. It had to be. She’d got it.

Episode Eighteen

Meanwhile Bray was sitting with Tai-san sorting out details for a new lab, much larger than anything they already had. They decided to divide the making of antidote into several sections and then allocate different rooms to each section. Bray suggested that they should get Jack in to help with setting it up, ‘And perhaps Enna could help too. She did chemistry to a pretty high level you know.’
Tai-san hadn’t heard - ‘What?’
‘Enna’s a chemist.’
‘Oh, she hadn’t told me that.’ Tai-san was a little put out.
‘Yes, I think she’d be useful shall I go and get her and you get Jack?’
‘OK, meet back here in a few minutes.’ Tai-san nodded and they separated, heading for different ends of the Mall.
‘Ellie I told you, there’s nothing going on.’ Jack was desperate, he just couldn’t get it through to her.
‘But I saw you the other day, hugging each other!’ Ellie was indignant.
‘I’ve explained, that was when I’d caught Lex trying to strangle her and she was crying.’ Ellie stood there, irate. ‘Besides, ‘ Jack had to admit to himself, ‘she’s too old for me.’
‘Yeah, Jack, you just remember that.’
Bray walked into the room. ‘Er jack, are you busy? Can you come and have a word with Tai-san, Enna and me about the antidote labs?’
Ellie raised her eyebrows.
‘Sure,’ said Jack. He walked out of the workshop with Bray. ‘Women!’ he said.
When Bray got back he say Tai-san already sitting there. ‘I got Enna and I found Dal too, he’ll be a great help.’
‘Good idea Tai-san.’
Bray and Tai-san explained the situation to the others. And pretty soon ideas were flying about how they’d set up the labs, finding the plants, providing the heat and the equipment they’d need. Dal and Jack said they’d see about setting up solar panels on the roof to provide heating power and Bray worked out they’d organize the others to get the herbs. When it came to the equipment, Enna spoke up: ‘There’s a whole load of stuff back at my house.’ Everyone looked questioningly at Enna. ‘My dad was a research chemist and we lived right above the labs because he worked such mad hours.’
‘Where were the labs Enna?’
‘Sector 14.’
‘That’s quite a way off. D’you think we could make it?’
‘No problem,’ contributed Dal. ‘It’s not to far. Me and Jack will think of some way to get the equipment back.’
‘Yeah,’ agreed Jack. ‘It’ll only take us a day’s travel. And only Enna and me need go, and Dal,’ he added quickly. 'The whole tribe need not go like the Eagle Mountain thing.’
It was agreed on Tai-san made a list of stuff they needed and Enna converted her ideas into practical equipment that she knew they had at home. They arranged the trip for two days time and agreed to stay the night there. Everything was sorted and Tai-san went away to make up a batch of the antidote to take with them, to give if they saw anyone who needed help or, as Enna had really meant when she suggested the idea, to trade if they got into trouble. Jack went to break the news to Ellie and Dal went to sort out some transport. Enna thought she might hold on before she ran off with the antidote, she didn’t really fancy going back to her brother and all their mates at the warehouse. This could be fun! Anyway, she needed the equipment to make the stuff herself and she still didn’t know how to make it. She could probably work it out but Tai-san’s herbal way might be simpler. Yes, she decided, I’ll stay until these labs are set up and I’ll see if I can work out the real method of making it…

Episode Nineteen

Ryan was thoughtful and quiet as he poured out the antidote to endless queue of people that morning. He was ambivalent about Lex. He was so sorry that Lex had been thrown out, Lex was his best friend and had always looked out for him but he was still disgusted with what he’d done to Enna, who was so sweet and would never hurt anyone. Deep down, he was really shocked but he still didn’t believe Lex would do anything like that, he wouldn’t and Ryan believed he couldn’t. Just then Enna walked down the stairs to help him and Ryan immediately felt guilty for his thoughts. He blushed but Enna chose not to notice it.
‘Hi Ryan can I help?’
‘Er… sure.’ He handed Enna a ladle and started handing out the antidote again
Enna tried to strike up some form of conversation. Then her eyes drifted to the queue. A figure hooded with dark clothes moved slowly towards her. As he got closer and closer Enna realized to her horror who it was. He avoided Ryan when he went to give him a ladle full into the cup he was carrying but he moved straight on to Enna. From underneath the hood he whispered. ‘Outside five minutes.’ before moving off.
‘What did he say?’ asked Ryan who had seen the stranger lean forward and say something to her.
Enna didn’t answer. Her mind was racing. What was he doing here? This wasn’t part of her plan, she’d specifically said no contact.
‘Enna?’
‘Oh, sorry Ryan what did you say?’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Look Ryan, d’you mind if I just have a quick breath of fresh air, Ebony’s guys are guarding outside, right?’
‘Sure, I’ll take over,’ said Ryan wondering why she needed a break so soon after she’d started and also what that stranger had said to her. Probably something along the lines of thank you, he thought.

Enna followed the back of the queue to lead outside. She squinted in the bright sunshine, it was the first time she’d been outside for two weeks. She saw Spike and the a few others watching her as she came out. She ignored them and walked across the street to a narrow alley. ‘OK you can come out now.’
The hooded figure stepped up from behind some crates and let down his hood to reveal green hair to go with his piercing green eyes. ‘Now isn’t this a touching family reunion,’ he said sarcastically.
‘First ever, if it is,’ sneered Enna back.
‘So how’s it going?’
‘I said, no progress report, in fact no contact. I told you never to come here again.’
‘Oh come on sis, I missed ya.’ She raised her eyebrows questioningly. ‘OK, so I’m lying, I haven’t missed you one bit. But I am worried about what the hell you’re up to?’ his voice turned harsh.
‘What do you mean?’ Enna returned in the same tone.
‘I was down the gambling den yesterday and I overheard a conversation with a certain bloke. He was saying how he used to be a Mallrat but he got thrown out because he was set up by some devious bitch.’ He smiled, ‘I’m sorry Enna, but the description was all too accurate. Now, like I said, what the hell have you been up to?’
‘That’s my business. Sure, we both thought of the plan but how I carry it out is my business. We’ve had this conversation.’
‘You slept with him didn’t you?’ Enna glared at him. ‘You just can’t help yourself can you? For God’s sake, Enna, try to control yourself.’
‘You know you sound more like mum every day.’
Rob smiled. back at her. Enna relented, it was good to see him again. ‘Look I’m going back home tomorrow to get some stuff from the labs. You can meet me there, midnight in the kitchen, I’ll leave the back door unlocked.’
‘Have you still got the keys?’
‘Believe it or not, yeah! I happened to have them in my pocket when I came. But anyway, I can’t talk now. I’ve gotta go.’ She headed off down the alley.
‘Oh and Enna, ‘ he cringed slightly, ‘You remember how we ran off and left home before mum and dad died?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Watch the corpses, they might still be in the house.’
Enna laughed, ‘Sure, I’ll give them a touching send off.’
‘Knew I could count on you Enna!’ he said sarcastically before pulling up his hood and heading for the other end of the alleyway.

Episode Twenty

Jack and Dal were in the workshop trying to sort out some form of transport for the trip when Ebony appeared at the door. ‘Erm… Hi boys.’ They looked around in surprise. They hadn’t seen Ebony down here before.
Dal was suspicious. ‘Hi Ebony what d’you want?’
Ebony looked offended. ‘How do you know I want something? Are you sure that I’m not just here for a friendly chat?’
There was a silence. Jack suppressed a laugh.
‘OK so I do want something. I just want to know if you’ve got that video camera set up around the back.’
‘Sure, er.. why?’
‘I er… I’m not just worried about people trying to steal the antidote and sneaking around the back. So how does it work?’
Jack moved over to a TV screen at the back of the workshop. ‘You just press here… then here.’ He showed Ebony some random buttons then the TV screen flicked on to show the empty area around the Mall’s back door.
‘Can you record?’
‘Sure… why?’
‘No reason.’ She turned and walked out.
‘And she didn’t even say thank you,’ commented Dal.
Jack leant down to underneath the TV to turn it off. He flicked the switch. Nothing happened. ‘Er… Dal, there’s a problem.’ He tried the switch a few more times.
‘Yeah, I see.’
‘Any idea what’s wrong?’
‘It’s probably the connector relay wire again. It must have come loose up at the camera. We’ll have to fix it up manually, plug the wire back in. I’ll go up to the roof now.’
‘Are you sure Dal? The camera’s quite far down over the edge.’
‘No problem,’ Dal smiled.

As soon as he was up on the roof, Dal realized that there could well be a problem. He leaned over the parapet around the edge of the roof as far as possible but the camera was just out of reach. Luckily there was some rope nearby so he tied a loop for his foot in one end of a piece of rope and attached the other onto a metal rail bolted to the wall on his side of the parapet. He did the same with another shorter piece of rope and then wrapping the short one round his wrist he threw the long rope of the edge of the parapet then slowly climbed over to put his foot in it. Supported by one hand and one foot he slowly leaned sideways towards the camera. Looking at it he could see where the wire had come loose. As he put pressure down on the foot support to try and push himself closer to the camera he heard a terrible grating noise as his hand rope started to split, fibre by fibre, rubbing against the concrete parapet. It gave way and he immediately fell backwards and his foot came loose from the rope. Jack suddenly saw Dal appear in front of the camera and fall further and further away until he collided with a heap of rubbish leaning against the building. ‘Dal!’ he screamed at the TV. But Dal wasn’t moving.

Episodes 21-24
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