Revenge Wars Part IV: "Revenge's End" Section III
***
Wyrm stared blankly at the image of Stargazer on the screen. When he
did speak, his voice was barely a whisper, but spoke volumes about the
horror and rage being kept barely in check. "You did what?"
"<I'm sorry, Wyrm, but this wasn't part of the plan...>"
"How the HELL could you be so stupid?!" Wyrm shouted, his control
breaking. Stargazer recoiled. The display shifted as Barry Cadwgan
grabbed the vidphone.
"<Wyrm, we don't have time for this! Okay, so we're in it deep, yelling
about it isn't going to fix it. Focus on the solution, not the blame.>"
Wyrm was silent for a few minutes as he brought his anger under control.
"Right. You're right. Okay... have you alerted Frosty?"
"<The entire complex now on alert.>" Madigan replied from off-screen.
Wyrm never understood why Barry chose her as his chief assistant, but
she was efficient.
"Good." Wyrm replied. "Stargazer, I'm sending a plot hole to pick you up. I
want you up here so you can tell me _exactly_ what happened. I also
want all the data logs from your 'porter."
"<Right.>" Stargazer replied.
"Durandal?"
"ONLINE, ADMIN-WYRM."
"Send a plot hole to the main engineering offices of the Fred
Administration building, for purposes of transport to MON. Oh, and get
Nitro up here. Brief him on the way."
"ACKNOWLEDGED."
As Wyrm waited for Stargazer to arrive, he risked a scan of Washuu's lab.
It was deflected, of course, but he still got some important information.
A hole in space opened behind Wyrm and Stargazer stepped out. Wyrm
turned slowly to face the Legion of PAC commander.
"I'm tempted to beat the crap out of you right now." Wyrm said coldly. "I
know it wouldn't accomplish anything, but it would make me feel better.
But I know this wasn't your idea, it was Wyrm-chan's, and that makes it
worse." Wyrm sighed. "Damnit, she _promised_! Okay, let's see the logs."
Stargazer handed over the small black box, and Wyrm plugged it into the
computer console. The data transfer was instantaneous, and a list of
readings scrolled across the screen.
"Damn, I was afraid of that." Wyrm said.
"What is it?" Stargazer asked. He knew the data indicated a dampening
field of some kind which blocked his 'porter, but something else was
bothering Wyrm.
"This field isn't just set to block your teleporter." Wyrm said. "It's been
modulated to block every method of transport available to us," He paused
significantly. "Including Plot Holes."
"How is that possible?" Stargazer asked, rereading the data himself.
"How can she know how to block all of them? I thought it was virtually
impossible to block a plot hole unless you knew what you were doing?"
"It is." Wyrm replied, searching through the data, trying to find the hole in
Washuu's defense. "Unless someone tells you how."
"Then there _is_ a mole." Stargazer said quietly.
Wyrm nodded, scrolling through the data on Washuu's dampener field
collected by MON's scanners and Stargazer's 'porter. "Leela, online."
"Yes, Wyrm?" A holographic projection of the red-haired A.I. appeared.
"I'm missing something. Can you go through this scan data and tell me if
there's any known method of penetrating it?"
"I'll try." Leela replied. She closed her eyes for a moment. "The shield is
capable of blocking all methods of transport available to Fred or MON..."
Wyrm swore something nasty in German.
"... BUT, there is a method of transport which should be able to
penetrate."
"There is?" Stargazer asked hopefully. "What is it?"
A stream of data scrolled across the screen. It seemed like absolute
gibberish to Stargazer, but Wyrm seemed to understand it. After a few
seconds his eyes widened.
"Oh no! Not him!"
"What?" Stargazer asked, confused.
Wyrm waved off the question. "It's nothing. I'm just going to have to...
swallow my pride. That's all. You head back to Fred and get your
engineers moving."
Stargazer nodded. Wyrm removed the 'porter from the computer and
handed it back to Stargazer, then opened a plot hole and sent the Legion
of PAC commander back to Barry's office.
Wyrm of Gallifrey bodyslid into the control room. "Durandal told me what's
going on. What's the plan?"
"Pack a lunch, Nitro. We've got to go see Eric Jones."
***
"<Stargazer, I'm sending a plot hole to pick you up. I want you up here so
you can tell me _exactly_ what happened. I also want all the data logs
from your 'porter.>"
The spy deactivated her comm tap. Her master would have to be
informed about this. It was only a matter of time before the FDF
discovered there was an information leak, and her cover would be in
jeopardy.
She paused as part of her mind rebelled against what she was doing.
<This is wrong!> It screamed at her. But she ignored it. It was simply a
relic of her past self, her past life. It was a weakness now, and her
mission had no room for weakness.
The spy returned to her duties, allowing herself to fall back on her old
persona. No one suspected her yet, and she would make sure no one
would.
***
Ranchan picked up his visual scanning as soon as his fighter dropped
below the cloud cover. So far the skies and his scanner were clear, but
that could change without warning. His terrain-following sensors found
the canyon they were to fly and put the distance and heading up on his
HUD.
"Green Leader to Green Flight. I've got a lock on the trench, and I'm
setting up to begin my run. Green Two, you're with me. Three, Four, you
get to play pattycake with the Zentradi."
"<Oh, goodie, the fun job.>" Elfreya replied. Her tone was sarcastic, but
there was a hint of anticipation in her voice.
Ranchan altered his course and put the fighter into a shallow dive
towards the green-brown landscape, following the approach vector his
navigational computer gave him. Nabiki followed on his wing, and the
other two fighters maintained altitude. The idea was to draw as many
battlepods away from the canyon as possible.
As Ranchan descended towards the ravine, he suddenly realized just
how _narrow_ it was. It looked like an anorexic version of the Grand
Canyon. <That's not a trench! That's a SLOT!> He thought as he fought
the urge to throttle back. His fighter dropped into the canyon, and
maintaining speed became a challenge. "Green Two, you still with me?"
He asked, trying to keep the stress out of his voice.
"<Roger, Green Leader.>" Nabiki replied, voice cool, as if she flew this
kind of obstacle course every day.
Ranchan's palms began to sweat as he fought to keep from nicking a
wing on one of the many rock outcroppings, or bouncing it off the granite
wall as he raced along the wildly twisting stone channel. <Too fast!> His
panicked mind thought, <It's too damned fast!> He unconsciously began
to throttle back.
"<Green Leader, your airspeed is dropping. Is everything okay?>" Nabiki
asked.
Ranchan noticed he had dropped his airspeed a bit. He cursed himself,
pushing the throttle forward and ignoring the panic that it caused. "I-I'm
fine, Two. Resuming speed."
Ranchan found that he didn't have time to think. He could only react and
pray later that it was the right choice. Even then, it felt like he was missing
the canyon walls by millimeters at best. He wondered when the gun
emplacements would show up. He didn't have to wait long. Abruptly red
laser fire lanced along the trench, nearly startling Ranchan into making
himself into a nasty crater in the rock wall. He recovered quickly, though.
He tried his best to ignore the incoming fire. There was little he could do
about it, and switching his focus from flying to targeting a weapons turret
even for an instant could prove fatal.
"<This is Green Three. Enemy battlepods sighted, request permission to
engage.>"
Ranchan didn't hear the message at first, and Elfreya had to repeat her
request.
"Wha...? Acknowledged, acknowledged. Permission granted!" Ranchan
said. He grunted as he wrestled the fighter away from a finger of stone.
"<Green Four to Lead. You've got ID4 Stingrays dropping in on your tails.
Count five marks.>"
Ranchan cursed his luck. The ID4 fighters were smaller and more
maneuverable than the veritechs, and could handle the trench at much
higher speeds. Once they caught up, they would chew through the
veritech's shields in no time.
"<Twelve klicks to target>" Nabiki reported calmly.
<Almost there!> Ranchan though desperately. He managed to arm his
proton torpedoes, and he kept some attention on the DTT (Distance To
Target) readout. Because of this distraction he didn't see the rock jut.
The huge dagger of granite stretched out almost all the way across the
canyon, blocking it almost completely. Smaller rock shards bristled both
above and below it, making it virtually impassable.
Ranchan panicked. He threw his fighter into Guardian mode, desperately
trying to shed some speed so he could pull up and out of the ravine.
Green Two was unable to match the sudden deceleration and slammed
into the lead fighter, crumpling the nose of the escort and killing the pilot
instantly. The wreckage of Green Two's fighter embedded itself into the aft
of Ranchan's veritech, pulling it down and to the side, until it impacted the
cliff wall, exploding in a brilliant fireball.
Ranchan blinked as the game over message scrolled across the
simulator screen. "Damn." He muttered as he ripped off his helmet and
began to undo his harness. The canopy cracked open, allowing daylight
to flood in. as his eyes adjusted, he realized that there was someone
standing outside the simulator, looking at him. It was Ekisya, the second
in command for Otaku Flight. He didn't look happy.
"That was an unacceptable performance, cadet." He said seriously.
Ranchan pulled himself out of the simulator cockpit. Now that the panic
faded, the adrenaline was switching to fueling another emotion. "That
simulation was totally unfair!" He said angrily. "There was no way around
that rock formation! What was I supposed to do?!"
Ekisya folded his arms. "Maybe getting around the rock formation isn't the
point."
"What?!" Ranchan said, incredulous.
Ekisya narrowed his eyes. "When you're flight leader, your responsibility
isn't just to yourself and the mission. You have three other pilots that you
have to worry about. Green Two might have been able to pull up if you
had warned her. But instead you panicked."
Ranchan felt a cold lump form in his stomach. Suddenly he understood
what was supposed to happen. He _should_ have warned Nabiki, and
maintained his course and speed, and plowed into the formation so that
she would have a chance to pull out. "It's a Kobiyashi Maru, isn't it?" He
asked quietly.
"Partially." Ekisya said. "It isn't no-win. Theoretically, it is possible to beat
the scenario, but no one has managed it on the first try. It's a test of
various things, including how you handle flying under extreme duress."
Ranchan didn't need to see his score to know that he had failed. In
Ekisya's eyes, he could see his position in the squadron slipping away.
<It's not fair!> Part of him screamed. <You didn't give me a chance!> But
he knew that protesting was useless. "Yes sir." He said sadly. He saluted
and turned to leave.
He made his way to the bar, already committed to getting very, very
drunk. As he sat down, Frosty's voice came over the intercom system.
"<All personnel, Fred Compound is now on Yellow Alert. All flight crews
are to report to their assigned hangars. All cadet crews will be issued a
fighter assignment shortly. All engineering personnel are hereby required
to report to duty station immediately.>"
Nearly everyone in the lounge began to file out. Ranchan ignored the
procession, instead ordering the strongest drink he could from the
waiterbot. <First I lose Ukyou, then I lose my spot in the squadron. Life
was better before Eric 'rescued' me.> He was so absorbed in feeling
sorry for himself that he didn't notice Nabiki sit down.
An American penny clattered onto the table. Ranchan looked up in
surprise.
"I think you owe me your thoughts now." Nabiki said, resting her chin on
her hand. "That is the deal, isn't it? A Penny for your thoughts?"
"My thoughts have gone through a market slump." Ranchan replied.
"Besides, I'm Canadian." The waiterbot returned with his drink, and he
was about to slug it back when Nabiki covered the glass with her hand.
"Not so fast, hotshot." She said. "You might be flying in an hour."
Ranchan laughed bitterly. "Yeah, right! You saw my performance in there!
I cracked up, and I took you with me! My chances of getting into the
squadron are nil."
Nabiki shook her head. "Don't take this simulation so seriously! You're
_supposed_ to crack up."
Ranchan blinked. "Huh?"
"The techs do a complete analysis of your previous flying record and
tailor the simulation so that you're pushed to your limits. Like Ekisya said,
its a test of how you handle extreme flying conditions. If you don't choke
then the techs didn't do their job right."
"B-but..." Ranchan stammered. "What Ekisya said."
"He's just making you sweat a little." Nabiki replied. "So, are you
coming?"
Ranchan nodded dumbly. He got up to follow her, then stopped. "Wait,
before we go, tell me two things. First, why are you doing this for me, and
second, how do you know all this?"
Nabiki grinned. "Well, I should charge you, but I'll give you this one as a
freebie. Firstly, I'm doing it because I think you're a good pilot, and I don't
like to see good material get wasted. And secondly..." Nabiki slowly
began to walk out of the lounge. "... It's my job to observe cadets and
report their performance to Ekisya. That was my thirteenth time through
that simulation."
***
Wyrm-chan looked up as the lights flickered. "What was that?"
The small group had been carefully edging along a featureless, off-white
corridor, moving away from the biology lab they had arrived in, which was
now filled with pre-dissected Pfhor.
Yuri pulled out her scanner. "There are fluctuations in the power grid.
Something seems to be interfering with the computer control system."
Wyrm-chan smiled. "I'd lay money on that being Alpha. If he's here then
Prime must have made it too. I just hope he's with Kei or Zen." They had
been using the subdermal transponders that all 3WA agents were
implanted with to track the other groups. "Okay, how far to the closest
group?"
"About sixty kilometers." Yuri replied. "Zen's group."
Wyrm-chan's face fell. "I suppose I should be happy they're not a couple
of planets away. Still, we're going to have to find some kind of
transportation."
"We've got a new problem." Yuri said. "Multiple life-forms incoming! Non-
human."
Wyrm-chan readied her M-113. <Perfect, more Pfhor!> She thought. <At
this rate we'll be out of ammo within the hour!>
***
Zen eased his head around the corner, blaster held ready. Nothing.
"Looks clear." He said to Ukyou. After the incident with the shrub things
had been quiet.
"I don't like this." Ukyou said, looking around nervously. They were in a
wide, open hallway with a vaulted glass ceiling, almost like a shopping
mall. "We haven't run into anyone or anything the entire time we've been
here. Washuu should have come after us by now."
Zen didn't argue. They had been following Yuri's transponder signal for
nearly an hour now, and the entire time Zen had the feeling that someone
was playing with them. Their steps echoed throughout the giant hall,
making things even more eerie.
Ukyou stopped by what looked like a shop window. "Zen, look at this!"
Zen walked over and looked through the glass. Displayed there were
some kind of alien-looking footwear, as well as a number of signs in a
language he didn't recognize. "Wha...? I don't believe it, this IS a
shopping mall!"
"What the heck is Washuu doing with a shopping mall?" Ukyou asked.
Zen shrugged. "This is Washuu. ANYTHING is possible."
They turned to continue. Behind them, directly where they had been
standing, a hole appeared in the floor, unnoticed. It lingered a moment,
then disappeared.
"Maybe we should see if there's a directory or something here." Ukyou
said, heading for one of the escalators leading to the second level. "That
might give us a clue where we are."
"Or at least tell us where the food court is." Zen replied. "Zen could go for
a milkshake right now."
Zen never saw the hole open up underneath him, and he wouldn't have
had time to react if he did. He simply dropped.
Ukyou dove and caught his arm. As she did Zen felt something grab his
leg, pulling him down further. Ukyou began to slide closer to the hole's
edge.
"Ukyou, let go!" Zen cried. He pulled out his blaster and fired a few frantic
shots into the darkness below him, but to no effect. If anything the pull
become stronger.
"No way, sugar!" Ukyou was dragged a few more inches, unable to find
any purchase. She pulled out one of her mini-spatulas, which had a
length of wire attached to it, and threw it at a nearby column. The spatula
winged around the support column several times, finally striking it and
imbedding itself deep in the cement, securing the wire. Ukyou took up the
slack in the line, using it to pull herself and Zen back away from the pit.
Zen felt whatever had latched onto his leg pull harder. Ukyou's sweat-
slicked hands slipped on the wire, and they both were pulled back
towards the pit. Ukyou warpped the wire around her hand, but she still
couldn't make any headway against whatever was pulling them in. There
was a sharp tug, and Ukyou winced as the wire bit into her hand.
Zen recognized the stubborn look on Ukyou's face. She would hold on to
him, even if she was dragged down too. His mind frantically raced
through his options to save himself and Ukyou. He reholstered his
blaster, reached down to his utility belt with his free hand and popped a
small gas pellet from one of his belt dispensers. He dropped it into the pit,
and heard a satisfying hiss as the sphere reacted with the air. There was
a roar and a cough, and whatever had been gripping his leg let go.
Ukyou pulled him out, just as the hole disappeared behind him. Zen felt
the floor where the hole had been. It hadn't closed up or repaired itself,
but had simply vanished, like it had never really been there.
"Zen thinks we should get out of here." Zen said, unholstering his blaster
again.
"No argument there, sugar." Ukyou replied, unslinging her megaspatula.
Menacing laughter echoed throughout the mall, seemingly coming from
everywhere.
"This routine has been done to death." Zen muttered, still unnerved.
The hole reappeared on a nearby wall. As they watched, horrified, a
grotesque crab-like creature emerged. It's body was spider-like, with
three crab-like legs, but attached to that was a humanoid torso, with a
huge, tooth- filled maw where it's stomach should be. The creature's
head had a smaller version of the mouth on its stomach. It was smiling,
showing all of its teeth.
"#The master has granted me the honor of dispatching you.#" it said,
although its mouths didn't move. "#As much as I would like to play, he
appreciates promptness.#" Without another word the creature charged.
Zen bounced a few blaster bolts off the thing's hide. When he realized
that it was useless, he tossed away the blaster and flicked a bloody card
into his hand. Unfortunately he didn't have the time to use it.
The creature grabbed him by the chest, lifting him and pinning him
against one of the cement pillars. It grabbed his arm, squeezing his wrist.
The pain increased until Zen was sure his wrist was going to be crushed.
Finally the Bloody Card slipped from his spasming fingers. He could feel
it's foul breath on his face. It smiled, then began pushing on Zen's chest.
The air in Zen's lungs left in a whoosh. Zen tried to gasp, but the pressure
on his torso prevented him from drawing a breath. It felt like his ribcage
was going to collapse. He writhed as his lungs began to burn.
"Let him go you jackass!" Ukyou cried, flinging a handful of mini-spatulas
at the demon. They bounced off it's thick hide harmlessly. She swung her
megaspatula in a wide arc, bringing it down on the arm that held Zen
captive. It didn't even flinch.
The demon laughed and backhanded her away. "#Wait your turn!#"
Zen's vision was going dark. His arms felt like rubber, and weren't
obeying his commands anymore, and his head was swimming. He knew
he had only a few more seconds before he lost consciousness, probably
for good. He wanted to scream at Ukyou to run, but he had no air. He
decided that asphyxiation was something he would have to avoid in his
next life. Barely conscious as he was, he didn't hear the *snap-hiss*.
Abruptly Zen dropped to the ground, the pressure gone from his chest.
He sucked in grateful lungfulls of air, deciding that breathing now ranked
as one of his favorite activities. He looked up, trying to figure out what
had happened through the haze that clouded his vision.
The demon had backed away a bit, snarling in pain. It's arm had been
severed below the elbow, and green ichor was gushing forth. Standing
between the demon and Zen was Ukyou in a battle ready stance,
gripping a short metal tube in both hands, like the hilt of a sword.
Erupting from the tube was the crackling, azure beam of a lightsaber.
Zen shook his head, trying to clear it. <Zen has been listening to too
many of Prime's John Williams CD's> Zen thought. He looked up again,
but Ukyou was still holding the lightsaber in the place of her
megaspatula. The blue glow from the blade had an interesting effect,
seemingly transforming her okonomyaki chef's outfit into a Jedi's garb.
For a moment she looked almost like a Jedi Knight straight out of the Old
Republic. Zen tried to struggled to his feet, using the nearby column for
support. Dizziness washed over him, but he kept his feet.
Ukyou edged back towards him, holding the lightsaber in front of her
nervously. Whatever effect had given her the aspect of a Jedi, even for a
fleeting moment, was gone. Zen wondered if he had really seen it in the
first place.
"Are you okay, sugar?" Ukyou asked, glancing at him over her shoulder.
Zen nodded weakly. The demon circled them, always crouched, ready to
pounce. The glow from the lightsaber reflected off its eyes. Zen reached
for his blaster, but it wasn't in the holster. It was probably for the best,
because he was pretty sure he couldn't shoot straight right now anyway.
Ukyou ground her teeth. "Well?! Are you going to come at me or aren't
you? Afraid I'll take more than your arm this time?"
The demon smiled, showing it's teeth. "#I love it when food struggles.#" It
tensed, about to leap.
It never got the chance. A green streak flashed behind the demon,
followed by a spray of green blood. The demon screamed and
staggered, ichor flowing from a gaping wound across its back.
"Kyone!" Zen cried.
The green-haired Magic Knight stood on the opposite side of the demon,
sword held at the ready, traces of green still clinging to it. "Is this Youma
giving you trouble?" She asked, smiling confidently. This was her line of
work, after all.
The demon turned to face its new opponent. As soon as it did, Zen
noticed movement in the shadows.
More accurately, he saw the shadows _moving_. One of them darted out
towards the demon, nothing more than a distortion visible only out of the
corner of your eye, until it reached the demon's legs. It's camouflage
dropped for a moment, revealing a scarlet-clad figure. There was an
ominous *shing*, and as the figure darted past the demon, all three legs
on its right side came unattached, spurting more ichor. The figure
vanished as the demon collapsed.
"Time to finish this." Kyone-chan said, calling her magic. A green glow
appeared along the length of her sword. She raised it over her head as
the magic gathered.
"EARTHQUAKE SLASH!" Kyone brought the sword slashing down
through the air, cleaving into the floor at her feet. A narrow ribbon of
energy leapt from the sword, racing along the ground. It struck the
crippled demon, slicing it straight down the middle. The demon opened
its mouth as if to scream as its two halves slid out of alignment, then the
energy surge consumed it in a brilliant white explosion.
Kyone-chan re-sheathed her sword and walked over to Zen and Ukyou.
Ukyou collapsed her lightsaber, sighing in relief.
"Boy, am I glad to see you!" Ukyou said, clipping the cylinder to her belt. "I
wasn't sure if I could take that thing by myself!"
Webdragon stepped out of the shadows, deactivating his cloak. "Yeah,
you just wouldn't believe the riffraff that hangs around malls these days."
"Just out of curiosity, where did you get that?" Kyone-chan asked,
indicating the cylinder clipped to Ukyou's belt.
"And how much did you pay?" Webdragon added.
"Lucas got it for me." Ukyou said.
"Lucas?" Zen replied as he retrieved his blaster and bloody card. "You
mean Ran..." Zen choked off the sentence. "Uh, right, Lucas. I didn't think
he had the know-how to put something like that together."
"He didn't." Ukyou replied. "I had him... ask Mills-san for me."
"Ahh." Zen, Webdragon and Kyone said together. By this point just about
everyone knew about the Ukklones fiasco.
A strange chittering sound echoed through the mall.
"What was that?" Zen asked. Then he noticed Ukyou had gone white as a
sheet. "Ucchan?"
"It's them." Ukyou said, fear creeping into her voice.
Webdragon snapped out both his claws, and Kyone drew her sword. The
chittering was getting louder. Zen pulled out a compact scanner.
"Fourteen life-forms heading this way. Non-human." He said.
"I think we should get out of here!" Webdragon said.
Zen's scanner beeped. One of the aliens was practically on top of him!
He looked around depserately, not seeing anything. Then something told
him to look _up_.
A Pfhor fighter dressed in red battle armor dropped straight at him, power
staff thrust downwards to impale him. Zen lurched out of the way, still
dizzy from his near-asphyxiation, and the Pfhor's staff bit into the floor
where he was standing, creating a small crater as it discharged. The
Pfhor howled and tore its staff free from the ground, swinging it at Zen,
who avoided it through sheer luck.
nine more Pfhor vaulted over the railing of the second floor dropping on
the stunned group. Webdragon faced off with an adversary, a low growl
escaping from deep within his throat. His first lightning-fast slash cut the
alien warrior's staff apart, the second buried his claws deep within the
Pfhor's chest. The creature screamed in pain as Webdragon smiled,
twisted the claws around and raked them upwards through the alien's
body, slicing it apart.
Kyone had her opponent disarmed as was about it eviscerat it when she
noticed Ukyou standing stock still, frozen as the battle raged around her.
A Blue-armor Pfhor slung an energy bolt off its staff, directly at her.
Everything slowed as Kyone left her opponent and charged for Ukyou.
"Get DOWN!" Kyone cried, tackling her as the energy blast passed over
them. Kyone could feel the heat of it burn and blister her right arm as it
missed her by mere milimeters. Ukyou blinked as if waking up.
"Wh... wha?"
"C'mon, Ukyou, snap out of it!" Kyone shouted, shaking her by the
shoulders. Confusion slowly faded from the Okonomyaki Martial Artist's
eyes.
Ukyou shook her head to clear it. "I'm okay, Kyone. I just..." Ukyou looked
up to see the Pfhor that had nearly killed her and Kyone's former
opponent charging towards them. Kyone was half afraid that Ukyou
would lock up again, but this time something darker filled her eyes. She
calmly stood and ignited her lightsaber.
The first Pfhor got within reach and brought its staff around in a blinding
fast horizontal slash. Ukyou calmly ducked under it and lashed out with
her lightsaber, slicing the alien in half. The Pfhor looked almost surprised
as the momentum of its swing pulled its upper torso off its legs.
Ukyou didn't pause to admire her handiwork. She stabbed out at the
second Pfhor, impaling it on her energy blade, then slashing upwards,
cutting it's upper torso in half. The Pfhor tottered for a moment as its
upper body parted like some grisly flower opening, then it collapsed.
Zen was having some serious problems of his own. His Pfhor adversary
had managed to pin the Trouble Consultant against a wall, and was
trying to bring the bladed end of its staff to his neck. Fortunately, Pfhor
weren't very strong, by human standards. Zen shook off the last effects of
his near- suffocation and began to fight back in earnest. He tore the staff
from the Pfhor's grasp and swung it around, catching the Pfhor with the
bladed end. as soon as it impacted, the staff discharged, blowing the
Pfhor apart and covering Zen with yellow goo.
"Eyuck!" Zen said, wiping the gunk out of his eyes. "Why do they always
have to die messy?" He turned his gaze to the battle.
Webdragon was sparring with three Pfhor, and seemed to be deriving an
almost cruel enjoyment out of the fight. He would dart forward, slash at
his opponents, causing them pain but not enough to kill or disable, then
dance back before they could retaliate. Kyone was fencing with another
two Pfhor, and seemed to be holding her own, although she seemed to
be favouring her right arm. Ukyou was tearing into a group of Pfhor with
her lightsaber, seemingly heedless of any danger to herself. A blue
armored Pfhor dropped down some distance behind her and raised its
staff, taking aim.
"NO!" Zen cried. His thumb found some kind of slider control on the Pfhor
staff he was holding, and he cranked it all the way up. The staff crackled
with energy in response. Zen slashed the energy staff through the air in
front of him in the direction of the Pfhor, praying that he was using the
weapon correctly. A crackling ball of energy leapt from the staff and
slammed into the unsuspecting alien, blowing it apart.
Zen thumbed the slider back down, and the staff returned to normal. He
ran over to help his friends, but there wasn't much left by the time he got
there.
Ukyou stood over a Pfhor corpse, lightsaber humming dangerously. After
a moment spent staring at the dead alien, she spat on its body. "That was
for Ranchan." She said quietly.
Zen was disturbed by the cold fire he saw burning in her eyes. Ukyou
wasnÕt normally the type who enjoyed killing or inflicting pain. He hoped
that her rage wouldn't overwhelm her.
Zen tucked the staff under his arm and pulled out his scanner. "There are
more Pfhor incoming. Twenty... maybe more."
"Bring 'em on!" Webdragon said, scraping his yellow blood stained claws
across each other. Zen could swear he saw a reddish gleam in his eyes.
<Is EVERYONE lost to bloodlust?> Zen thought.
"I don't think we can take that many." Kyone-chan said. She clutched her
arm, in obvious pain despite her attempts to conceal it.
Zen nodded. "I think I saw an exit sign a little ways back. Maybe there's
actually a way out there. Or at least some cover."
They made their way along the wall as fast as they could, Webdragon a
little reluctantly. <This really isn't like him.> Zen thought. <Webdragon-the
OLD Webdragon-would never derive pleasure from something like this.>
He gripped his newly acquired Pfhor staff a little tighter, hoping the bad
feeling he had about Webdragon was wrong.
They reached the exit sign, which hung in the mouth of a corridor leading
out of the mall, the type which usually led to the parking garage. As they
entered, Zen heard the distinctive cry of a Pfhor.
"GO!" He shouted, pushing the others ahead. He turned and thumbed the
slider on his staff to the max, sighted the Pfhor and swung, slinging an
ball of energy at the green armored alien.
The Pfhor dodged, but the blast instead struck a cement support column,
sending mortar dust everywhere. Zen used the distraction to turn and
follow his friends. They were waiting for him at a T-intersection in the
corridor. He dodged around the corner as a number of Pfhor energy
blasts passed through the space where his head had been a moment
before.
"There's no exit!" Kyone-chan said as Zen got to his feet. "What do we do
now?"
Zen glanced around the corner. An entire squad of Pfhor we running
down it as fast as their thin legs could carry them.
Zen pulled a small black grenade off his utility belt. He clicked it once,
activating it. <Three... two...> He lobbed the device at the Pfhor and
pulled his head back and flattened himself against the wall.
Webdragon saw the action and did the same. "Fire in the Hole!" He cried.
"Not quite!" Zen replied. Then the grenade went off.
*BLORTCH!*
Webdragon blinked. "Blortch? Did you say _blortch_?!" He eased his
head around the corner. His jaw dropped.
Everyone else cautiously stuck their heads around the corner. The hall
was now filled with some kind of solidified yellow guck. There were a few
Pfhor limbs sticking out. The corridor was completely blocked.
"What kind of grenade was _that_?!" Webdragon demanded.
Zen grinned. "Zen managed to finagle a 3WA prototype. It's officially
defined as a non-lethal anti-personnel weapon, but all the techies just
call it a 'goo grenade'."
"Do you happen to have a 3WA prototype to get us out of here then?"
Kyone- chan asked. "You seem to have cut off our only escape route.
Zen pulled out his scanner and checked the wall in front of them. "There's
a corridor behind here, if we can get to it."
"Leave it to me, sugar." Ukyou replied. She ignited her lightsaber, and
with a series of lightning fast slashes cut a hole in the wall. The
passageway on the other side was a stark contrast to the mall, all metal
ducting and access panels.
Webdragon raised an eyebrow. "Wow. I didn't know you knew any
Kendo."
Ukyou shrugged. "You try and find a martial arts master who specializes
in spatulas. It was the closest thing I could find to study until I got good
enough to develop my own style."
They clambered through the hole, Zen taking one last look at the mall
they were leaving.
"I never did get my milkshake."
***
Barry had finished talking to Stargazer, trying to get as much information
about the raid, how much in advance it had been planned, who had
known what, when, and was back in the office discussing it with Kate in a
ŌbreakÕ, while outside the Legions of Engies were busy remodeling FRED
on fast forward.
"Well, he says he didnÕt tell anyone, not even his own people." Barry said,
dropping into a nearby chair.
Madigan crossed her arms, rubbing her chin with one hand. "Hmmm...
What do we know about the timing? What window was there for a
message to get out?"
"Dunno. I suppose IÕll have to wait until Wyrm-chan and the others get
back to ask. IF they get back."
"Do that. Anything we find, we keep on an isolated system. No net
access, it may be one of the AIs for all we know, or Washuu might have a
back door.
Barry leaned back closing his eyes "Washuu knows we have telepaths.
She could be running a Talia Winters."
Kate smiled "ItÕs what _IÕd_ do. WeÕll have to do it the hard way, method
and opportunity. Keep an eye on motive though, they may have simply
turned someone. Never overlook the obvious."
"Hell, we don't even know if Washuu is behind the leak! We need more
information, and we donÕt know who we can trust."
"Do what I do, trust no-one."
He smiled "ThatÕs what I like about you Mads, weÕre both cynical,
pragmatic bastards at heart."
Kate looked him in the eyes "No, youÕre too soft. YouÕve changed, but not
that much."
"Life _is_ change Kate, we both know that. Well, our first priority is
information."
"Correct. Lets get to it shall weÉ"
The door swished open. there were only three people it would do that for,
and two were there already
Kate spoke without turning around "Hello Mackie. Come and sit down."
A little suspiciously he pulled over a chair.
"WhatÕs going on? EveryoneÕs gone crazy with this raid and youÕre sitting
here..."
Barry turned to face him, his face grim "Think it through Mackie, Washuu
_knew_ they were coming. It's likely that we're infiltrated. There are some
people it's _unlikely_ are turned, but as that Loader joker proved, even
we Authors cannot be fully trusted. However, there are some in positions
of power that there's no percentage in doubling... unless, of course they
have been recently replaced." he grinned mirthlessly.
Madigan shook her head. "You are an unlikely candidate." She said to
Barry. "If youÕd gone over, weÕd all be dead by now."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Mads. I think."
Mackie looked quizzically at the other engineer.
Kate answered his unspoken question "You donÕt need to know."
Barry gave Kate a sharp look then looked back at the teenager "ItÕs not a
question of trust kid. Heck thatÕs what trust is, belief in someone without
knowing everything about them. If we knew everything, we wouldnÕt
need to trust."
"Well, what about _her_" He avoided looking at Kate, concentrating on
Barry. "Does she need to know?"
"She already knew, and I trust her self interest. She has her reasons, and
they are not compatible with WashuuÕs or (?)Õs."
Kate smiled "Mr. Stingray, whatever the differences between your sister
and myself, we are all in the same boat now. I have made my choices.
And I will live with them." She stood and yawned "ItÕs been a long day. IÕm
sure you will wake me up when itÕs my shift. Good night." She turned to
leave, but paused as if just remembering something. "Oh, by the way,
Frosty-usa has called a general meeting of ALL the department and
section heads at 22:00. It's mandatory attendance."
Barry grimaced. "Oh. Great. A meeting, just what I need right now."
***
Stargazer stormed towards the quarters assigned LPAC, mind full of fire
and brimstone.
<I can't BELIEVE that idiot Wyrm! Wyrm-chan had the right idea, but it
didn't work because we didn't have the right support.> Support had been
a problem for a number of operations. Stargazer had wanted to establish
defense outposts in key realities to protect supply routes, and possibly
establish alternate staging points should Fred be overrun. He had even
drawn up a plan for the creation of a new pocket dimension, smaller and
more tightly integrated than Fred and thus easier to defend. Both Wyrm
and Frosty had nixed the idea, saying that they simply didn't have the
resources.
Stargazer shook his head in disgust. <They mean they don't want to risk
the resources they have. Putting all their eggs in one basket, waiting for
someone to come along and break them all at once.> He smiled tightly.
<Well LPAC isn't going to get caught in that little trap. Support for LPAC
operations isn't going to be a problem much longer.>
Stargazer entered the group still fuming. Spotting his two seconds in
command, he called out to them, "Hunter, Anubis we've got trouble!
Emergency meeting, right now!"
The other two joined him in a small side room that served as both an
office and tracking center for all of their activities in Fred. The two listened
with dismay as Stargazer explained to them what happened. After he
finished, he started giving orders, "Ok, guys, from now everybody is
working two out of three shifts. We can expect to be invaded at anytime,
so I need both of you to tell me about the status of the special projects I've
given you."
Hunter spoke up first, "Well, our three SpecOPs teams are ready, except
for equipment. We've had them quietly checked out on all of the
advanced weapons systems here."
Stargazer frowned in concern, "Your sure there won't be any repeats of
that Skywise incident that we had back around the beginning of this
whole revenge situation?"
"No. Back then we just had our ROTC personal in SpecOPs and they
only had the training to deal with straight human foes, not animates or
those who had anime level powers. Now they're almost to the level you
wanted, highly adaptable and able to carry out any mission. Each 10
person team is highly trained in covert and overt combat and has a
variety of skills to accomplish most objectives. All we need is the
equipment, and we can handle whatever comes up"
"Excellent, Hunter. I had to make sure, though. Speaking of equipment,
that's your department, Anubis."
Anubis grimaced. "Well, if Wyrm hadn't nixed the PUBO project we'd be
doing a lot better. Astex station is completed, but we've taken a hit over
the time differential, although not nearly as bad as if we had built back on
Earth. Sneaking raw materials has been difficult, especially since we
have to ensure that both the freighter crews AND the fighter escorts are
LPAC before we can divert them. Altering the inventory records without
Cadwgan finding out has been a pain. I swear he never sleeps!"
"David, we have to be careful. I don't want anybody knowing about this
project, _especially_ now that there's a leak."
Hunter however, disagreed. "We should tell them. They might need to
know about it and using their resources will make our job there much
easier."
Stargazer shook his head and responded, "We've had this discussion
before. If it becomes necessary, I'll tell them, but until then, it's our ace in
the hole. If only we had gotten the green light on PUBO we wouldn't be
so reliant on Fred in the first place, now that we've been kicked out of
Purdue."
"Well, we did help rebuild all of those destroyed buildings, and nobody
will really miss Frat Row." Anubis interjected.
Stargazer chuckled. "Just be glad nobody ever figured out who *really*
caused those explosions."
"Hey, there was no evidence that it was premeditated. It was just...
collateral damage."
Stargazer smiled in response to Anubis' comment and then continued,
"Anyway, Hunter, we have to remember that the PUBO project hasn't
been completely canceled, just shelved, so it will have to remain our
secret, as well as Astex. Continue, Anubis."
"Well, we've got our projects running well. As a matter of fact, we have
part of the equipment problem solved." He lifted up a briefcase onto the
cluttered desk and opened it. He pulled out what appeared to be a
midnight blue body suit with plates of white armor attached to it, as well
as a white helmet that included a visor, respirator, and como wings by the
ears. "We finally have all of the armor done up for everybody. The plate
armor is plastic composite materials and the suit itself is insulated against
electricity. With the helmet attached, it can serve as a full vacuum suit and
we'll have fully scrambled and encrypted communications. It took as a
while because we needed to adapt their morph suit technology for our
cursed personnel. This one is yours, Wayne. We also have finished the
prototype stages of our redesigned cyclone armor and can begin
production of it. There is no way, though, that we can finish the other
designs we've been working on in time, not with all the production time
that's been pre-empted for fighter production. I nicked a full set of
schematics for the new Valkyrie II/S by the way. We'll need to stop the
auto-factories from replicating themselves just to be able to produce the
cyclone armor. Also, we'll need some of the capacity to produce spare
parts here if we want to have any hope of finishing in time."
Stargazer paused for a moment, "Do it. I want everybody still at Astex
station working here. We'll keep two SpecOPs teams over there at a time
to run the station and assemble their cyclone armor. It would be better to
keep more of them here, but the time differential is working against us too
much. If Fred is invaded, they're to grab all the personal armor, weapons
and cyclone armor they can so that we can help with the fighting. We'll
start an immediate evacuation of our non-combatants in this scenario,
then everybody else who can find a weapon *will* be expected to fight
unless the situation becomes completely hopeless. If so, I'll want a
complete evacuation..."
***
"What level are we on?" Prime asked wearily. They were climbing a
ladder up a huge, seemingly bottomless shaft. There were platforms and
ladders along each of the four walls.
"One level higher than when you last asked." Kei said from above him.
"Two forty-seven."
"Are you sure this is the right way?" He said.
"Of COURSE I'm sure!" Kei shot back. "Will you just shut up and climb?"
The continued on upwards until they reached one of the platforms. Prime
hauled himself up and collapsed.
"Slug." Kei said derisively. She leaned over the edge and called down to
Nene. "Okay, Nene, you can come up now."
Nene was standing on another platform several levels below. When she
heard Kei call, she activated her flight pack and jetted up to join them.
Prime weakly got to his feet. He stared at Nene's hardsuit enviously.
"Next time I have Erin build me something, I'm going to make sure it has
jump jets."
"You're just out of shape." Kei replied, although she was obviously also
tired.
"Hey, _you_ try climbing sixteen stories in body armor!" Prime shot back,
tapping the front of his suit. "This weighs a bit more than that battle bikini
you're wearing!"
"Hey, this is 3WA standard issue! It is NOT a battle bikini!" Kei retorted,
getting right into his face.
"I'm sure that 3WA has other 'standard' issues." Prime said. "You're just an
exhibitionist. Whatsa matter, Kei, can't get a date any other way?"
"That's it! I'm gonna...!" Kei was about to slug Prime when Nene stepped
between them.
"That's _enough_ you two!" She said. She had been playing
peacekeeper for the last hour and was sick of it. "One more word, just
ONE more, and so help me I'll push you both down the shaft myself!"
Kei and Prime blinked in surprise, but they both clammed up.
"Now which way do we go from here?" Nene asked.
Kei pulled out her scanner. "Okay, we just head across..." Kei checked the
readings again, then looked across the chasm, dismayed. "... that."
"'Of COURSE I'm sure!'" Prime muttered. "Yeah, right. I should have
known better!"
"It's not my fault!" Kei retorted.
"Shut UP!!" Nene screamed. Kei and Prime stared at her once more. "I
can't THINK with you two bickering! Give me a minute." She quickly ran
some calculations through her suit's computer. <It's tight, but I think I can
make it.> "I think I can carry you across."
"Are you sure?" Prime said. "Your suit wasn't designed with passengers
in mind."
Nene sighed. "No, I'm not 100% sure, but we can't just sit here." Nene
gestured to Kei. "C'mon, you first."
"Me?! Why me?" Kei said, looking down the shaft. "Ohh boy!" Kei took a
deep breath, then nodded. "Okay, fine. I'll go first."
"Waitaminute, waitaminute." Prime protested. "There's no way Nene can
maneuver with a passenger, and that pit is at least a hundred meters
wide. She'll be a sitting duck!"
"Hey, we haven't run into any patrols for nearly 20 minutes." Kei said.
"Besides," She tossed him the plasma rifle. "You'll be covering us."
"Then who'll cover me when I go across?" Prime asked, hefting the
weapon uncertainly.
"Don't worry, it'll work out fine." Kei replied. "I know what I'm doing."
"That's news to me." Prime grumbled. But he raised the rifle, scanning the
other platforms.
Nene picked up Kei by the waist and took off, flying a little unsteadily to
the other side. It looked a little close, but they made it safely. Prime
scanned the platforms, beginning to think that Nene's plan was going to
work out okay. She began her return trip.
Nene was nearly across when the Pfhor appeared on a platform farther
up the shaft. Before Prime could react, it cast a ball of energy from its staff
which arrowed straight for Nene.
"NENE!" Prime screamed as the blast struck her squarely in the back,
destroying her flight pack. Everything dropped to slow motion. Before he
realized what he was doing, he dove off the platform after her, swinging
the rifle up as he did and blasting the Pfhor and the entire platform it was
standing on to pieces. He let go of the rifle and reached out with his right
hand, snagging Nene's upper arm. He reached his left upwards. "Glitch,
line!"
The keytool launched a line into a platform several levels above where
they had fallen from. The line went taught, jerking them to a stop. Pain
lanced through Prime's left shoulder as the full weight of Nene and suit
came to bear. He had to bite down on the urge to scream, and only barely
kept his hold on her.
Nene didn't move. Prime fought to stay conscious through the pain, and
to keep his grip on Nene's arm. "Glitch... retract..." The keytool began to
pull them up, sending more white-hot lances through Prime's shoulder.
Agonizingly slowly Glitch pulled them up until they were a little above the
level from which they had fallen.
"Zip-line." The tool reconfigured, launching a new line towards the wall
just above the platform where Kei watched, shouting encouragement.
"Don't let go of her! You can make it!"
Prime felt himself sliding along the new line, picking up speed. His vision
was going dark. <Just gotta hold on... couple more seconds...> He felt
himself slam into something, sending another jolt of pain through his
shoulder, and breaking his grip on Nene. His last thought as he blacked
out was that he had failed.
***
Eric Jones sat in front of a PowerMac, in a small, grey, featureless room.
As he typed away madly, a message window popped up. Curious, Eric
eyed it for a few moments. "Oh," he said, with a small smile, "visitors..."
***
In a similar room, sans PowerMac, a plot hole opened, disgorging a
young man with his blond hair tied in a ponytail and wearing lavender-
rimmed glasses, and another man who looked suspiciously like Jaedite
with long ponytail.
Wyrm looked around curiously. "Something's wrong here..."
"Where is he?" Asked Nitro
"I don't even see a computer... What's going on?"
As the two Wyrms looked around, something began to coalesce in front
of them.
Within moments, a blonde-haired boy, dressed all in black who looked
almost exactly like Eric, had completely materialized.
"Where are we?" demanded Wyrm.
"You are in the master's visitor room." replied the blonde, "Please, sit." He
said, as chairs appeared behind the Wyrms.
"'The master'? You don't think he means (?)?" whispered Nitro.
The question was answered as a vid screen opened up (a la Reboot). On
the screen, was Eric's mug. "Greetings, visitors! I.... Oh. It's you..." The
screen disappeared, and Eric phased in soon after. He stood in front of
the two Wyrms, a small tick in his eye. "What are -you- doing here?"
"We need your help." Wyrm said bluntly.
"Yeah, nice. I'm charmed. No way." Eric said, turning around.
"Eric, we haven't got time for this!" Nitro said. "We need your Hitchhikers
Guide to Realities. Lives are at stake!"
"Let me see if I got this." Eric said, spinning to face them, "You 'arrest' me
because a bunch of animates decide to clone themselves, proceed to
signature lock me to my own pocket dimension, and now you come here
to take the Guide? Nuh uh, nothing doing."
"You have to understand that your irresponsible actions were causing
SEVERE reality fractures!" Wyrm replied. "Right now we only have to
deal with one version of an animate at a time, but if I hadn't come to help
you, WE would have ended up dealing with _multiple_ versions."
"Like that was my fault! I only sent an omnipotent avatar after them to
rough them up for what they did to my computer. It's not MY fault they got
the big idea of using my multiple realities idea to bring in dozens of
versions of themselves!" Eric replied. "Lifetime imprisonment is a little
harsh for my first 'offense', especially since I wasn't completely
responsible! You didn't lock up JesX, did you?"
"No, but he wasn't threatening all reality, just Fred." Wyrm said. "And...
maybe I was a little... strict."
Eric opened up a new vid window, and began examining some data. "I
want the signature lock removed, all of my equipment back, full immunity
from any further punitive action..." He paused. "And permission for
temporary use of some of your operatives - sometime soon."
"What?" Nitro asked, "Why the hell do you need..."
"Long story." said Eric, quickly, "And not one I want to spread the
information about too freely. In fact...
Eric typed in a command on the screen. Promptly, Nitro vanished. With
that, he turned to Wyrm.
"What did you do with Nitro?!" Wyrm demanded.
Eric sighed. "Don't worry, I just threw him temporarily out of synch with us,
so we can have a little privacy. He still standing right there, probably
wondering where we went. Cautiously, Eric pulled out the Guide. "This
thing, is my 'one binding ring'," he announced, "And I've yet to find my
volcano of Mordor.."
"What?"
"This thing's dangerous Wyrm. I need a couple of your operatives to go
with me, and find a good way to destroy this thing; absolutely."
"Any particular reason why?"
"Trust me on this. Washuu getting her hands on this could be more
dangerous than you realize. All I'm asking for is one or two good men that
you can trust. It shouldn't take too long either... But what do you need the
Guide for anyways?"
"You're aware of (?)"
"What, them? Yeah I know about them.."
"Them?"
"Another long story..."
Wyrm cocked an eyebrow, but continued. "Wyrm-chan and a specialist
group she formed tried to infiltrate Washuu's lab to find out where (?) is,
but it went wrong. Now we need the Guide to get them out."
"Washuu?" Eric paled. Washuu had taken a significant interest in Eric's
Guide to Realities, and Washuu's interest could be an uncomfortable
thing.
"We'll understand if you don't want to participate in the rescue." Wyrm
said. "But we need the Guide. It's the only way to get into Washuu's lab.
We're willing to remove the signature lock and return all of your
equipment, and provide safe passage to Fred..."
"I want in."
"... As long as you're willing to... Excuse me?"
"I want in." Eric repeated. "The Guide does _not_ leave my hands, at any
point. Even if I have to face... Her. Again..." Eric's bravado did little to hide
his fear of Washuu, but he was sincere.
Wyrm nodded. "Okay." He pulled out a small device, which bathed Eric in
a soft red light. "The lock is off. We can go anytime."
"Good." Eric said. He got up and stood toe-to-toe with Wyrm. "First order
of business, before -anything- else... I want the trench back."
"Your 'trenchcoat of death'? The one you nearly blew me up with? You
can't be serious.."
"Hey, you said you'd return everything..."
Wyrm sighed, "Fine, as soon as we get to Fred... And bring Wyrm of
Gallifrey back, would you?"
Eric smiled ear to ear. "Sure. This shouldn't be so bad after all... Thanks a
lot!"
"Anytime." Wyrm muttered, and opened a plot hole back to MON. Nitro
reappeared, looking confused, but Wyrm ushered him through before he
started asking too many questions. Eric went through, followed silently by
his double in black soon after.
***