Broker

Chapter 152

Lily raced back into the temple as Luke positioned himself where she’d been standing, his hands outstretched. Behind her she heard a silent woosh of air and then a noisy bang as something distantly exploded. She didn’t have time to appreciate that Luke had managed to achieve his goal with his power, she needed to help the others. She slid to a stop next to William who was looking pale, his head leaning against a wall and his eyes fixed on the two resting scouts. Each of them had little mounds of wriggling ooze sitting on top of their various injuries. His haggard eyes turned to look up at her, “Did my best,” He wheezed, “Healing isn’t-”

“I know,” Lillian said comfortingly and pat his arm, “You kept them alive, you did great.”

He was the only one with anything remotely close to healing abilities besides hers, but they’d had to prioritize finding a way out. It had been a hard choice to send her to scout. She turned to the nearest of the three. He called himself Anton. An immigrant. New to the country and even so he had signed up for this. She reached down and took his hand as he opened his eyes and looked up at her, frustrated tears welling up in them. “I want to fight,” He croaked.

She smiled at him as she closed her eyes, pushing the flames out and letting the golden light wash down from her hands to rush across his body. He let out a gasp and his breathing eased, “Just a bit longer. It works on everything but takes a while, hang in there,” She said softly before letting go of him and hurrying over to Nina. Her arrow wound looked bad. It was sealed for the most part and she wasn't bleeding thanks to William’s oozes but she was suffering from the poison. She took her hand as well, “Here’s some more,” She murmured and more flames spread.

Bangs and crashes rang out behind her but she dared not look back. Luke wasn’t a fool. He’d call for her if he needed her. She stood up and held her hands over both of them, concentrating as hard as she could. Feeling the energy cycling through her body before going out again to fuel the flames and give them comfort and health. She panted, she’d used so much power that it was beginning to wear on her stamina but she couldn’t just stop, she couldn’t-

ROAAARRRR

The sound sent a chill spider walking down her spine. She spun and looked out towards Luke who’s arms had fallen to his sides in horror. She looked up at William and he nodded to her, reaching into his bag and pulling out a bottle of water and drinking from it before turning his attention to the wounded pair. She cursed and turned to race over to Luke’s side only to stop cold at the sight of what had been brought to the base of the stairs.

A creature out of books, it’s body wasn’t especially big, about the size of a school bus. Not as massive as she’d imagined they’d be. It had a feline gait, languid and slow as it prowled between the gathered dire elves. It’s scales were green and gleamed angrily in the ambient light. It had a reptilian head with a long snout filled with terrible teeth that it showed as it let out another bone chilling roar. She glanced up at the blue glowing figure of the dungeon boss pointing at her and Luke with rage in his malformed eyes.

The sub-boss? She thought as her heart clenched in her chest. She squared her shoulders and glanced at Luke who returned her stare. 

If any of you guys are coming, I sure hope it’s soon. Until then…

Her broadsword ignited.

…looks like I’m fighting a dragon today.

–

Chunhua clenched her fists and lifted her head. Her jaw tight, her lips in a thin line. Behind her, Amos had already gone after their last exchange. Just a few heartbeats felt like an eternity when the lives of others were on the line. She wondered what that said about her, wondered if she really could somehow compromise between her code and what she believed Sonya was trying to do. Sonya…

She watched as that woman with the sword paced back-and-forth before the doors to the common building, throwing her hands open in a challenging gesture before returning to her prowling. The animals that had come with her, Ellis and Ewen, stood behind the line of restrained heroes with barely restrained murder glittering in their eyes. The horde of masked cultists, recovered with the use of that strange light, stood as if they had not just been laid low by a small handful of courageous men and women.

It was insulting, to them, to her, to everything she stood for, to everything Sonya was trying to do. To the very core, it made her sick to see them smiling.

If we could field Handmaiden… but she’s wearing Sonya’s face. She can’t just… Chunhua clenched her eyes shut and bit her lip, the mana and internal energy inside her body swirling together, ready to burst forward at a moment’s notice. Sonya, where are you? Don’t you have a plan? Isn’t there anything you can do? I-We need you. Turn it around. Like you always do. I know you will.

–

Amos leaned over the desk, his face stiff as stone as he soldered together another part. He set it aside and frowned as Da-Som stood next to him, his face pale. He glanced up at the doctor and frowned, “What? I’m working as fast as I can,” He said hollowly. As confident as he sounded in front of Chunhua, things were a lot more complicated and difficult than he’d been willing to admit. He was glad for the millionth time he didn’t have Sonya’s weakness. Being unable to lie.

Damn it, Sonya, where are you? He thought as he got to his feet and marched over to the suit of armor he’d prepared. The shining metal gleaming beneath the laboratory light. Half of our plan was to use your ability to get reinforcements here if something happened. Now that’s shot. He glanced at a nearby screen, Spatial stabilization, not an ability those monsters outside have. There’s another one out there. He ground his teeth.

“We could just cut them loose now, cause confusion,” Da-Som suggested.

Amos pinched the brow of his nose, “With the heroes on their knees? Not a chance. I won’t let anything happen to them,” He said, “I’ll figure something out, invent something, I don’t-” He exhaled, “At least I’ve taken care of that streaming feed,” He trailed off and looked back in the armor before looking up at the screens where the situation unfolding live. He looked back at Da-Som, “Think you can do it when it’s time?”

Da-Som looked at his hands, “This ability is more than I expected, or deserve,” He said heavily before clenching his fists and nodding, “But I’ve got it figured out.”

“Good, because they’re going to need you,” Amos said.

Hurry up boss, we’re waiting for the next big show. You don’t wanna miss mine.

–

Carla stared at the screen, her lips pressed together so tightly they were turning white. Faces from around the world arguing with one another. Fear. They were afraid. None of them knew what to do. It wasn’t just the Chairman who had died. The entire upper chain of command of the Pandora Committee had been assassinated all at once. There was only one group this organized and good at killing people like ghosts. The Night Society. This isn’t her doing though, something happened. 

Carla looked down at the photograph on her desk, She and Sonya standing on the beach all smiles and laughter. She reached up to touch the pink diamond hanging from her collar and rubbed it. Where are you, Sonya? What would you do? Is this the moment we talked about? Is this the only thing I can do? Throw myself to the wolves to save their lives and hold together everything you built?

She squeezed her eyes shut, What if it’s too early? What if the groundwork you laid wasn’t enough? Did you need more time? What if I ruin everything?

She glanced at the security camera and watched Ewen and Ellis stalk back and forth behind the line of heroes, their smiles cruel. She looked back at the bickering morons arguing over policy this and regulation that. This wasn’t the time for arguing and squabbling. This wasn’t the time for nonsense. This wasn’t the time for cowards, not them, and not her either. She reached out and touched Sonya’s face on the picture.

You said I could do it. So I will. She said as her lips trembled, her whole body shook as she planted her hands on the table and leaned in.

“Representatives of the Pandora Committee!” She barked, “I have a proposal.”

–

Marta set her jaw. I might have to blow my cover at this rate, Sonya, where are you?

Marta stood at the door. It was the only weapon she had at her disposal at the moment, while she was wearing Sonya’s face. It had gone quiet outside just a few moments ago, but there was no all-clear signal, no message of victory. Things were not going well and every cell in her body demanded that she go out there and help with every fiber of her being. She glanced back over her shoulder at the crowd of young heroes-in-training. All of them looking downcast, their eyes shadowed, their faces withdrawn.

The question on all of their minds; If the instructors can’t handle this, what hope do we have?

And yet, among them, there were those who stared back at her with a glint in their eyes that she recognized. An unwillingness to back down. A desire to go out there and do what needed to be done. Among the fearful and worried were the real heroes who had been born through the struggle of the camp. She turned away and frowned at herself, Doubt? Me? She took a deep breath before shaking off the moment. She had to be strong, now more so than ever. She felt Baldur’s Body roar up in response to her feelings, prepared to set aside anything, endure any pain to protect these young people. If there’s anyone on this planet who can figure out what to do, how to get here in time, how to set things right, it’s you. I believe in you, Sonya. 

–

Tch.

The screen had gone dark, the only image on it a symbol of a grinning face with goggles on its head, a stylized middle finger held aloft just for her. She leaned back in her seat for a moment and scowled, glancing to the left at Craftsman who pursed his lips. He looked almost impressed. She scoffed before turning her attention to the other three in the room. The three figures had their arms crossed and were glancing at one another thoughtfully as the seconds ticked by.

This is taking too long, Liberty thought irritably. They’re wasting time. I told them to kill everyone not play games. She got to her feet and the others glanced at her. She turned to Craftsman.

“My sword,” She growled.

“Hmm? You told me not to make one for you,” Craftsman chirped back with a grin.

“I know you did anyway,” She said with a snarl, “Give it to me.”

He snorted and reached into the leather sack hanging from his shoulder. He pulled a sword as long as he was tall out of it. He hefted it once before tossing it to her. She caught it and immediately felt something burning beneath her skin. A connection with the weapon. She stared at it for several seconds as the connection bore fruit, strength, even more strength. She nodded brusquely and marched around the table.

“Where you going?” Craftsman called after her.

“To do it myself,” She growled and stepped out of the room.

–

This wasn’t a trap, this wasn’t a space created by liberty’s cronies, this wasn’t some trick or nonsense or anything like that. This place was very, very real. What’s worse, Sonya knew exactly where she was. She hadn’t wanted to believe it for the first few minutes of wandering the endless halls, running at top speed. Yet the more she traveled and the stranger this place became to her eyes, the more she had to accept it. 

I’m in the Backrooms, the place that Non-Euclidian travels through. Whatever happened, it happened while I was in the process of teleporting. No other explanation. A god damned coincidence.

She wasn’t even sure if it was possible to leave even if the cooldown on her disabled ability ended. That thought alone drove her to keep looking, to keep searching through the endless blank halls that changed every time she turned a corner. Sometimes they looked like the corridors of an office building, other times they were that eerie white-gray stone, and others they looked like something far older. Something ancient.

Ancient and empty. Not a soul, not a trace of anything living. She was alone here and with Ishtar silent and resting she didn’t even have anyone to bounce her ideas off of. So she ran, and ran, and ran, flying where she could. Every ounce of power put into speed to explore every inch she could traverse, searching for something more than the tireless madness of this place. It was as she rounded the latest in a thousand corners that she felt it. Her hair shifted a little, a fragment of movement, a breeze.

Wind.

She chased the wind, followed the feeling, she had to get back. Marta’s hands are tied. I have no idea of Liberty herself is there. If she is, with how long I’ve been gone I- she swallowed hard, Chunhua will hold the line. The instructors are stronger than they think. Amos will come up with a plan. Carla, be brave and do what you need to. Marta, guard them for me. I won’t let you down. She grit her teeth as the wind began to pick up, she could hear it howl in the distance. I’ll be there to turn this story on its head!

A ripple of light carried out behind her as she sped up, she didn’t notice it, didn’t feel it, but it was there. Her eyes were fixed on the next corner where the wind was even stronger. She rounded it and stopped, looking up the passage at a bright opening in the distance and a dark figure standing in front of it. She drew her knife and charged, she wasn’t about to waste time right now. She’d let her enhanced mind take in everything in the time between her movement and connecting.

It looked like a man but its body was gaunt and weathered, flesh decayed and partially frozen, eyes like burning motes of flame in black holes. Its skin glittered in the light behind it. It was gray, with its jaw hanging open in a silent scream and marred with a patchy beard. It wore ill-fitted leather armor designed for a much more muscular figure. In its right hand it held a heavy metal axe, in its left, a circular shield. Wait, where have I seen- She collided with it and instead of digging into flesh the blade of her knife clashed against steel as it held its axe up to block her blow.

Fast! She gasped just as it pushed her back with all its might, throwing her clear to the end of the hallway and crashing into the wall. She coughed up blood and created a berry in her mouth, chewing it before getting to her feet. And strong too, it pushed me away. Mythic? How? What the hell is this place really?

She clicked her tongue and drove forward again, putting on more speed, she darted low before zipping up high with a horizontal movement. It swung its shield down to block her feint and she whipped her leg out, willing a shin-guard of light and spikes to form on her limb. It crashed into decayed flesh and a cloud of glittering dust erupted from it’s body in a rainbow of colors as it’s head whipped to the right a few inches. She squinted and threw her arm over her mouth, Dust? Poison?

The moment she recoiled, it brought its axe up in a movement so fast even her enhanced brain took a heartbeat too long to register. Blade bit into skin just as she started to form armor around her body to protect herself. Pain seared across her waist, and she pulled herself away, spinning and throwing a dozen spears of light in its direction. It raised its shield lazily and blocked the ones aimed for its vitals only for the others to pierce through leg bone and feet.

She slid to a stop, breathing hard and created a berry in her mouth. She chewed and felt… nothing. She looked down at her side at the bloody wound that was struggling to heal. Suppression? She whipped her head up at the creature as it tried to take a step forward but it’s pinned legs and feet wouldn’t allow it. She pressed her hand to her side, shuddering once from the pain. Two can play at that game. She snarled and brought out a small fragment of the Visage. Just a little. It was overwhelming using it, like it was resisting her somehow. Pale white vines wrapped around her waist and she felt the healing finally start to kick in.

She darted at it again, this time watching its movements carefully before retreating from each strike. She spun and weaved, diving about and taking a few hits as she did. Each wound didn’t heal properly at first, it’s the weapon not the dust. She thought, It had a power suppressing property. This has to be some kind of Mythic dungeon. She watched every swing, every move of its shield, drank it in, understood it, processed it. Where is your weakness? Where do you hesitate? Where- there!

Just as it shifted stances between an uppercut and a horizontal swing there was a moment where it paused. Her eyes flared with light as she brought imperious down on it with all of her might in that heartbeat. She bore her teeth and flashed forward, extending the edge of her knife with an edge of light. She landed a few paces past it, her body bloody and aching, the healing still slowed by its weapons power. She panted and turned back to see its head fall to the ground, its grotesque body following it.

Her chest heaving, she turned away from it as her eyes clicked, adjusting to the sudden bright light.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart stilling for just a moment. Her eyes going wide as she stepped out onto the platform and looked out over the enormous empty void. Beneath her, a shattered bridge of rainbow glass glittered and sparked, beyond it, far, far away, a gleaming city of silver spires and towers vaster than any she’d ever seen before.

“What is this place?”