Chapter Text
Covey clutched eagerly onto his dad's much larger hand, making sounds of pure childish excitement. He jumped up and down, causing others, some adults and some kids, to glance over. The adults quickly turned their kids' faces away, not wanting Covey's unusual nature to rub off on them. Eventually, everyone in the small colony gathered into a large dome-like room, the walls lined with at least ten guards. One of the leaders, the head leader, stood on top of a stage like platform. Altair glared at him, he always made him feel uneasy, maybe it was his dull eyes, or the way he seemed to never truly smile and only ever gave sinister smirks. He was commonly known as Sir, and few knew his true name. Just as Altair was thinking such things, he felt his son trying to pull him to a nearby seat. As they sat down, Covey practically vibrating with excitement, the Telling began.
“Hello colony members,” Sir began, glancing around at the seats, full of around 80 people. “today I’ll tell you a story about someone who tried to go to the surface, for they believed it was safe. This person was known as Bili. They fled to the surface and–” The loud noise of one of the large doors behind the many seats opening interrupted him. “STOP TELLING LIES!!!” Altair turned his head sharply to look at the sound, ready to protect his son if needed. Everyone else, including Sir, looked at the young man that stood in the open door. His hair was messy, and his bright eyes were determined, but held something else under the veil of confidence, fear. “How dare you interrupt me, and then accuse me of telling lies.” Sir said this in a calm, though slightly angry and authoritative tone.
The accuser bared his teeth, “YOU KNOW I’M RIGHT!! I SAW WHAT IT WAS LIKE UP THERE, I SAW!!!” Now that Altair took in his appearance, he knew exactly who this person was. It was Rowan, or Asa’s brother, and he just signed his own death sentence. Recognition flashed on everyone's faces, before they bagan shout things along the lines of “HOW DARE YOU!!” or “DON’T QUESTION THE LEADERS!!” Covey hugged his dad’s side, clearly scared and overwhelmed. Just as he was about to comfort his little one, he was stopped in his tracks by a loud “STOP!!!” It was Sir who yelled this time and it was terrifying, loud enough to cause the whole crowd to quiet down.
“What. Did. You. See?” He was clearly upset, and when he was upset, people suffered. Rowan's determined look faltered for a second, but eventually returned. He looked straight into Sir's dark eyes and said in a slightly shaky voice “I saw the surface, it was so bright, and colorful. It was pretty and peaceful and-.” Altair flinched when he heard a light chuckle come from Sir who had begun to walk towards Rowan and the crowd. “And how did you see this? The Surface is not ‘bright’ or ‘peaceful’, it is ravaged by dangerous beings and monsters.” Rowan still didn’t back down. “I saw it, ok, the guards opened the door late at night, an-and I saw it,” He seemed uncertain and nervous. “but what I'm saying is the truth.” Sir's eyes narrowed. “Sure it is, guards, get him out of my sight.” Altair turned towards Covey and made him look away as they dragged him off, hearing the desperate cries from both him and his older brother, Asa.