Broker

Chapter 145

“Everyone! Please remain calm and move in an orderly fashion!” The dark haired instructor shouted, waving his hands towards the common building, “Please follow Miss Chernovna, she will lead you to the bunker beneath the common building! The Security force will be occupying the building, make sure to listen to their instructions,” The man continued. Alex hadn’t had a training session yet with the guy but he knew his name at the very least. Bedrock was a peak-epic earth elementalist hero and had been brought in by Marion like the heroic Axel. “The instructors will handle the situation, it is best that you all get to safety!”

“Where are the reinforcements?” One of the aspirants shouted. 

“Why aren’t more heroes showing up?” Another called.

Alex clicked his tongue and glanced towards Greg who was frowning hard. Both of them understood why they were giving the order but that didn’t mean he had to like it. They had worked hard to get to where they were, they were more than strong enough to take on some thugs. He let out a sharp breath and calmed himself, there was no point in getting worked up about it. They weren’t licensed yet and orders were orders. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t go running off half-cocked anymore.

A small hand gripped his shirt and he glanced down at Snow who was looking at the ground with furrowed brows. He felt her hand shake a little and looked up at Greg who was looking around as well. I have a bad feeling… He thought as Greg let out a relieved breath. Jessica waved at him from the front of the crowd leading into the common building. She’s accounted for, okay, he paused and then looked down at Snow again as Val and John hustled over. 

“Found John,” Val said before looking past Alex and waving his hand hard, “Hey! Over here!” He shouted. Alex felt Snow whip her head in the direction and tense a little. Then it hit him. Wait…

Cass and Ollie slid to a stop with the rest of them, “Is everyone okay?” Cass asked, her eyes wide, she started to head count when Ollie let out a weary breath. Cass’ hand fell to her side as everyone looked at Snow who was starting to shake even harder.

“Lillian is still in the dungeon,” Ollie said, his chest heaving with the effort of trying to remain calm, “The entire scout team is with her.”

Alex whipped his head back towards Bedrock, and two other heroes joined him. First was a woman wearing a hunter's hood and cloak, the other was a man in a bowler hat. Canis and Crowley. He remembered, he raised a hand to the trio, “Hey! Hey!” He shouted, “Wait! We’re missing people!” They didn’t respond, they didn’t even look his way. They were so focused on keeping control of the situation that they couldn’t spare the time. They’re counting on us to run to safety on our own. He thought.

Even with months of training hardening the aspirants, there was a difference between controlled combat and a surprise attack. Fear was powerful, Alex knew that better than anyone.

A bang rang out in the distance followed by a brief explosion. The other aspirants began moving faster as they hurried past the heroes who were trying to keep order. “They’re not going to raid the dungeon,” Greg said, “She just needs to-”

“No!” Cass shouted rounding at him, “Listen to me, if you think she’s just going to settle for missing a few, you’re out of your mind!” She looked down at her fingers, trembling, “This has got to be Liberty, it has to be, there’s no one else who would do this. She won’t stop until everyone is dead and she’ll trigger a dungeon break to get her way.”

Alex gripped Snow’s shoulder, “Cass we aren’t-”

“When will we be? When we get some card on a stage?” Cass shouted.

“A hero acts,” John said with a nod.

“She needs us,” Val agreed, “I ain’t sitting out of this fight, no fuckin’ way.”

“I’m going,” Snow said, her voice popping into their ears, bypassing the ambient noise of fear and distant fighting.

Greg bit his lip, “Ollie?”

Ollie adjusted his glasses, “I don’t know about you guys,” He said and squared his shoulders even as his knees buckled, “But I’m already a hero,” He said and turned on his heel, racing towards the path between the dojo and the common building that led out to the portion of the woods where the dungeon was hidden. Cass rounded on her heel and raced after him, Snow coming next.

Val glanced at Greg, “You comin?”

“You think I’m going to let you idiots run into danger without me?” Greg shot, “Fat chance,” He said and bolted off after the others. A shout rang out behind them, calling for them to come back. Alex stood there for a moment and looked past the heroes who were angrily shouting towards the doors. He saw Miss Chernovna there, gripping the door with white knuckles. He met her eyes. 

We’re off.

She nodded to him with a smirk before bringing her fist to her heart. He returned the gesture and turned, clapping Val and John on the shoulders. “Let’s go, we’ll be back in time to get yelled at.” He said and the three of them raced down the path to catch up with the others. Ahead of him, Cass and Ollie were almost at the trees with Greg and Snow close behind. Another loud bang rang out behind them followed by the initial pops of gunfire that signaled the enemy drawing closer. Where the hell is Axel? He thought just as he noticed something else.

“Movement in the trees!” He shouted, “Get down!”

Cass and Ollie dropped like lead sacks, Snow rolled forward and threw up her hands but she needn’t have bothered. Greg moved like lightning, his legs flashing with violet light for a moment before he launched himself to a spot between Cass, Ollie, and Snow. He threw up his hands and slapped the air as the roar of gunfire filled the air. A wave of purple light rippled out like a wall between him and their attackers and the bullets slowed to a stop, “Need a striker!” he called and Val vanished from Alex’ side, one moment there was a flash of heat and movement and then the next there was the sound of metallic armor crashing into three bodies that dropped to the ground.

Val landed, “Move!”

Alex and John hurried up, catching up with Snow. Alex scooped her up and kept running while Greg dropped his defensive technique and moved back to running with the others. “Go go go!” Greg called, “We’re moving as a unit! Cass, you’re a striker right?”

“Yes!” Cass called as she got up and started moving.

“Cass and Val, you’re striking. Alex, rear guard. I’ll take the front. Snow and Ollie on support. John, stay nimble and call out threats!” Greg barked.

“Right!” Their little crew shouted as one and dove into the treeline.

–

They snuck past me! Axel snarled inwardly as he crashed into the ground amidst a group of attackers. He snapped a fist out and sent one man hurtling into the dojo wall with a crunch of the man’s jaw. He pivoted away from a bayonet aimed at his chest and snatched the rifle out of the man’s hand, pumping a little momentum into the joints of the object and shattering it in an instant. He kicked his foot out and sent the attacker sprawling as the sound of gunfire rang out to his left. He glanced that way as a flash of purple greeted it, What the? Oh no. The Nashville team plus Ollie and Cassiopeia. Damn it they’re probably here for that girl! He thought before backhanding another idiot that dared to approach him and sent the man pirouetting away.

Where do they think they’re going? The dungeon? But- He froze and fury bubbled up in his gut, God damn it! He swore inwardly and kicked down at the knee of a guy running at him with a knife. He elbowed the already screaming man in the nose and sent him to the ground. The fucking scouts!

A pair of rocks shot past him and collided with two attackers as he leaped back to get some distance and get closer to the common building. 

“Axel!” Bedrock called, relieved, “We have to get those- URK!”

Axel grabbed him by the shirt and looked him in the eyes, “Did you call back the scouts?” He barked.

“Huh? The-” 

“DID YOU CALL THEM BACK?!” He bellowed. The horrified expression on Bedrocks face told him enough, he let his subordinate go and wiped the sweat off his face before turning towards the distant treeline where more and more attackers were pouring out, “Let’s hope those crazy kids can get them out of there safely. Because we’ve got at least three elites coming this way.”

“You’re hurt!” Canis said as she hurried over.

“I’m fine!” He said, ignoring his aching jaw, back, and leg. “We need to set up a perimeter, Bedrock, form a defensive wall,” He said quickly, “Canis, conjure up some backup,” He continued, gesturing left and right. “Crowley, do we have air support?”

The dark haired earth-wielding instructor nodded and turned away, holding up his hands to urge the ground to rise up between them and the approaching danger. Another, a woman with short blonde hair took a few steps back and brought her fingers to her lips in a silent whistle. A quartet of wolves appeared around her as if stepping out of thin air. The third, a pale man with sunken eyes nodded with a grin and pulled his hat down over his eyes, “For some reason this place is absolutely crowded with birds,” He said with a chuckle and threw his head back, letting out a sound that was eerily similar to a hawks screech. A solid wall of shrieks and birdcalls responded to him.

“They’ll be here any second,” Crowley said, “What’s Black Lotus’ status?”

Axel frowned and glanced back at the common building, “Something went wrong. I just hope she doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“But, this is an emergency!” Crowley protested.

Axel frowned, “So was The Hague,” He said irritably, “If that didn’t change the rules about the Vegas Act, this sure as hell will! Get ready, they’re incoming!”

Hundreds of racing footsteps and shouts caused Axel’s ears to shudder a little. He clenched his fists, We still haven’t seen the leaders clearly! He glanced towards the path behind them leading towards the dungeon. They’re all coming from one direction, this should be a good enough spot to defend from.

As if to confirm his thoughts, a portion of the stone wall created by Bedrock exploded as a bolt of red light streaked through it. Then another that was pointed a few feet to the right, and another. They’re cleaving through! “Get ready!”

A bloom of red light blossomed on the other side of the wall, growing brighter and brighter with every passing moment. Axel clicked his tongue, “Bedrock!” He called, “We need more wall!”

“I’m working on-”

FWOO-

A concussive blast of red light crashed into the stone wall, obliterating it. Axel threw up his arms to protect his face and chest, wincing. This one is going to- huh? He blinked and lowered his arm, confused at the absence of pain and shouts from his comrades. Something yellow-gold blossomed amidst the red light and he took a step back as a figure seemed to materialize out of the red glow that was struggling to get past a rippling transparent sheen of gold. Standing at the center was another aspirant, Marc Mallory.

This kid… holy shit.

The red light faded and Marc turned, lowering his hand and calling back the barrier. In his other hand was a golden sword that shone with dangerous promise. “Sorry for ignoring orders sir!” He said brightly, “My legs just moved.”

Axel grinned, “Kid you just saved our asses, Bedrock!” 

“On it!” Bedrock shouted back and threw his back into creating a taller, thicker wall around the perimeter. More howls joined the initial group that Canis summoned and a small flock began to gather around Crowley as the heroes rallied themselves. Axel looked Marc over once before glancing towards the path to the dungeon, “You think you can handle any of the small fry?” He asked the aspirant hero.

“I can manage,” Marc said and slung his sword onto his shoulder, “Orders, sir?”

“Some of  your peers went to the dungeon, the scouts are still inside, back them up,” He said quickly.

Marc gave a quick salute, “Yessir!” He said and like a rocket launched himself in the direction of the path. Axel let out a breath of relief, They’ll have a mythic with them. It’ll be fine. He thought as he stepped back towards the steps of the common building. The others moving with him. Birds filled the air and wolves prowled the interior of the wall as shouts and clamoring grew to a fever pitch, the ground shook from their steps and the wall shuddered as more attacks slammed into it. He clenched his fists. 

That was when a chime rang out. A sonorous sound that sent a chill down his spine, That sound guy again… He cursed only to feel his blood run cold as the wall that Bedrock so diligently built began to shudder and crumble. He closed his eyes and let out a breath, They aren’t even going to make demands. I have no choice. He glanced at Bedrock who met his eyes. The man paled a little before swallowing hard.

“Orders, sir?”

“I’ll take responsibility, do it,” He said with a frown.

Bedrock set his jaw and nodded, he took a step forward and threw his hands up, gesturing at the thick wall he’d created. It continued to crumble and shudder under the sound-users onslaught. He flexed his fingers and the wall was cut into segments, tall slabs of stone as opposed to one singular mass. There had to be at least a hundred attackers in the shadows of those things. He reared his arms back to push.

BRRRAAANNNNGGGG

The sound was so intense it nearly sent Axel to his knees and Bedrock reeling for a moment, canceling his lethal order, he reached up and clutched at his ears as he turned back towards the source. He blinked, No way, He thought, dumbstruck. She came out? 

Atop the balcony, looking down at the approaching horde of invaders and the three silhouetted leaders at the front, an eye-wateringly beautiful woman stood. She wore an immaculate gown decorated in jewels around the neck and down the front. Her black hair up in a stylish bun and large jewels hanging from her ears, framing an irritable scowl. In her hands was an electric guitar. She drew her extra-long fingernails along the strings and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“You’re going to pay for making me come out when it’s this humid,” She said and even though her voice was even and calm, it carried across the entire field. 

Madame Rouge had finally entered the fray.