Triptych

by S. C. Mitchell

  On the other hand, it was also a bad thing El Brujo wasn’t here. They could certainly use all the power they could get. Looking at the size of that mothership, and considering what they were going up against, sent a chill coursing up Morgause’s spine.

  But they did have Quantum.

  Morgause shifted her gaze to Dove. “You ready for this?”

  Huge breath. Huge sigh. Then her eyes narrowed. “I’m going to find John and the others and get you all safely headed home, then I’m going to tear that damn ship apart.”

  The task felt daunting, but if anyone could pull this off, it was Dove.

  Kirk pointed toward the viewport, at a small opening on the side of the mothership. “We’ve got permission to land in that hanger right there . . . I think.”

  “Permission or not, that’s where we’re landing,” Olivia said. “I swear some of the ships passing by us are slowing for a better look. Any idea where the rest of Xi Force is?”

  Kirk shook his head as he continued typing on his keyboard. “Working on it. They have some rather unique protocols on their network. At least it doesn’t appear we’ve raised any alarms.”

  Olivia glided the ship into the hanger and set down. The big door closed, sealing them in. Through the hull they could hear a hissing sound.

  “I think we have atmosphere and pressure,” Kirk said, “but you should take oxygen masks, just in case.”

  The masks had been designed for Xi Force by Mary. A compact breathing mask that fit snuggly over the nose and mouth and could be used under water or in dangerous environments, yet small enough to fit in the utility compartment Phaze designed into each Xi force member’s uniform belt.

  Even Kirk and Olivia, though they were planning on staying on the ship, slipped the mask over their nose and mouth before the hatch on the ship was opened.

  Mary, in her wolf-woman form, led the way. She wore a customized version of the body armor she’d developed for Pike’s Rangers. Mary hadn’t planned on joining Xi Force in the field, so Phaze hadn’t developed a costume for her yet.

  Quantum followed Mary, with Morgause right behind, ready to lend a healing hand if needed. Luke, sporting that bulky, odd looking rifle, brought up the rear.

  “What is that thing?” Morgause asked as they crept through the landing bay. The gun looked heavy, but Luke carried it with ease.

  “The new XM25.” There was a hint of pride in his tone. “They call it the Punisher. Our newest toy. It also can launch grenades.”

  Morgause didn’t know much about guns, but this one looked formidable.

  “Com check.” Kirk’s voice came through her earpiece. He’d set up a secure tunnel inside the alien’s local area network for their coms.

  “Loud and clear,” she answered. The others also replied. Now on the alien’s network, even if they got separated, they’d be able to keep in touch.

  They made it out of the hanger and into a hallway before they encountered any aliens. The tube-like hallways twisted and forked at odd angles. Gravity always pulled toward the flooring even when one changed angle. Ingenious and annoying at the same time. With no straight hallways, the set-up made it hard to know which way you were going. As she hit a curve in the twisting labyrinth, Mary pulled back. “Three of them. I think they saw me.”

  Shouting voices echoed from around the corner.

  “I got this.” Quantum stepped forward into the bend, fisted her hands, and held them in front of her.

  Waves of energy radiated from her and the shouts became screams, then went silent.

  When Morgause followed Quantum around the corner she saw three aliens slumped to the floor. “Nice work.”

  Hopefully an alarm hadn’t been raised.

  Now, how the heck did they locate the rest of Xi Force?

  She tapped her earpiece. “Kirk, have you got anything for us?”

  Xi Force relied so heavily on his computer expertise, yet the world didn’t even know he was part of the team. I sure hope they pay him well.

  “I’ve managed to find the ship schematics, and have you four located on it, but I can’t find any of the other Xi Force locators onboard,” he answered. “They might be in a part of the ship that doesn’t have networking.”

  Or they might have been stripped, and their uniforms and gear destroyed. The locators were sewn into the fabric of each costume and allowed Kirk to keep track of each member in the field.

  The ship was miles across and who knew how many floors up and down. Like a flying Megopolis, and they were looking for just a few people.

  A room by room search would take time they probably didn’t have.

  The hatchway ahead was locked. Quantum changed the door to sand particles that fell to the floor in a pile. “It feels so good to use my powers again.”

  She hadn’t been able to for the past nine months. Dr. Logan hadn’t wanted Dove to do anything that might affect Emily in the womb. With the baby born, Quantum was free to unleash her abilities.

  Beyond the doorway was another labyrinth of hallways.

  “This isn’t getting us anywhere,” Mary growled.

  She was right.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Here,” Morgan shouted, and Hanma banked to spiral toward the ground. The stiff wind pulled at her hair and blew coarse sand into her mouth when she opened it to speak. She spat out the residue. Even though she could fly in her raven form, soaring on the back of a dragon was proving to be one of the most exhilarating experiences of her life. The raw power of the creature beneath her had her breath catching and her heart beating stronger with each flap of the monstrous wings.

  Hanma easily carried her, Morgana, and Paul the long miles toward their destination. They were right on the edge, although the rocky plain went on and on, this was the place that comprised the outer surface of the invisible wall on the Sha’Xari mothership. All these miles of dimensional material compacted into a force field less than an inch thick. It was no wonder Phaze hadn’t been able to get through it.

  Hanma landed with only a slight jolt and let them jump off her back before changing into her human form. “This looks no different to me than anywhere else.”

  It did until one looked with eyes that saw.

  A slight shimmer marked the boundary. Morgana wouldn’t be able to see it.

  “Morgana stand here, facing this way.” Morgan judged where the sword strike needed to land.

  “Can Hanma come with us?” Paul asked.

  “Yes,” Morgan answered, “but we’ll need to move fast once the rift opens.”

  She turned toward Hanma. “Will you join us? The Sha’Xari threaten our world but we are fighting back. You could help us.”

  “And gain a measure of revenge.” Hanma nodded. “I—”

  A vibrating growl arose around them. Like a lion roaring into a quickly spinning fan.

  “Granlynx,” Hanma said. “They are fierce and deadly. Go. I will protect you.”

  She shifted into her dragon form.

  Dark feline shapes slunk from the shadows toward her. A dozen or more.

  Morgan spun to Morgana and Paul. “Paul, behind me, ready to push again when I tell you.”

  He did as he was instructed, but protested. “We can’t leave her—”

  “We won’t,” Morgan promised.

  But did she have the skills to deliver on that promise?

  She placed her hands on Morgana and cast the rifting spell.

  Blazing light and heat from Hanma’s breath attack on the granlynx filled the air around them. The dragon was close and fighting with everything she had to keep the beasts from disrupting the casting.

  Scuffling, fighting, howls, and yowls.

  No, I’m not leaving her behind to die.

  Dividing her concentration, Morgan w
ove another spell, a pocket dimension big enough to hold a dragon.

  “Now, Morgana. Strike,” she screamed as her rift spell completed and she dropped the pocket dimension around Hanma. “Paul, push.”

  Then she was pushed forward hard, and tumbled into the void.

  Chapter 30

  Her vision still foggy from the dimensional rift, Morgana sensed the danger more than she saw it. Jumping to her feet she spun toward the hangar doorway, as a Sha’Xari blaster beam shot toward her.

  With no time to dodge the blast, she pulled Fragarach across her body.

  The beam struck the sword blade and ricocheted to strike the alien, blasting him back, into the hallway.

  “Cool.” She hadn’t known she could do that. Probably just damn good luck. But they could sure use a little of that.

  Bolting forward toward the hatch, she slammed the hexagonal door shut, then put her back to the door.

  Shade, Phaze, and Wylde stood on the other side of the dimensional wall staring wide-eyed at her.

  “You made it,” Phaze said.

  Morgana could hear her clear as day.

  Strange how sound seemed to have no trouble passing through all that dimensional matter, but she didn’t pretend to understand all this magic stuff. Maybe she’d find out when she recombined with Morgan and Morgause.

  “How long have we been gone?” She’d lost all track of time in that other dimension. Xi Force had to be going crazy in there.

  Shade put his hand on the wall. “A couple of minutes.”

  “Time flowed differently there,” Morgan affirmed as Paul pulled her to her feet.

  A chill fisted in Morgana’s gut. Just the three of them. “Hamna?”

  Morgan snapped her fingers. “Got her.”

  With a pop, Hanma, in dragon form, materialized.

  “My friends,” she said transforming to her human form. “I am in your debt.”

  Her clothing was torn, and she was bleeding. The granlynxs had done a real number on her. If only Morgause had been there to heal the damage.

  “You don’t owe us anything,” Paul said. “But we’d appreciate any help you can give against the Sha’Xari.”

  Morgana pulled the door open a crack to check the hallway. The lone alien body lay crumpled on the floor. The hallway was vacant and silent. “Clear,” she said as she closed the door again and spun to face the rest. “So, how do we bring that wall down and free the others?”

  At least she was outside its influence, and could contact Morgause to find out what was going on below, on Earth.

  Morgause?

  ~ ~ ~

  “I’ve located three of our people.” Kirk’s voice crackled over Morgause’s com unit. “They suddenly popped up on the monitor.”

  Luke pulled a tactical data tablet from his pack. “Show us how to get to them.”

  The tablet was linked to Kirk’s computer.

  A 3D image of the hallway they were standing in displayed with small blips for each of them. Three more blips showed at the end of a long maze of rooms and corridors that at times snaked back upon themselves.

  Morgause started calculating their most efficient route to the others. “This could take a while.”

  Quantum took one look at the data pad, turned in the proper direction, and blasted a long, straight tunnel through six different walls. “Or we could take the direct route.”

  “Or that,” Morgause agreed.

  Morgause? Morgana’s mind-whisper thundered in her head.

  We’re here. On our way to you, she sent back. Stay put.

  ~ ~ ~

  Staying put proved harder than she would have thought. Morgana paced as a series of explosions reverberated through the wall of the bay, resounding louder and therefore closer with each new blast.

  What’s going on? she sent to Morgause.

  Now that Quantum knows where you all are, she’s kind of in overdrive destroying everything in the way. I think she really misses Wylde.

  Hopefully she’d also destroy whatever was generating this dimensional wall in the process, because Morgan didn’t seem to have a clue how to bring it down.

  The next explosion sent a vibration through the floor and Paul paused in his pacing. “Is that really Quantum?”

  Morgana smiled. “That’s what Morgause says.”

  Paul went to the door and pulled it open, then stepped out into the hallway. “Interesting. We never really got a chance to fully test her powers.”

  Morgana pulled him into the room. “And hopefully you’ll never get a chance to test that aluminum foil underwear you have on either. Where do you think you’re going?”

  He chuckled, gave a bow, and gestured toward the door. “My mistake. After you, love.”

  Sure, now that he knew the coast was clear.

  Men.

  ~ ~ ~

  Morgause couldn’t wait to join and catch up with her sisters. She had a feeling they all had stories to share.

  But more than that, she couldn’t wait to see Paul again. Why hadn’t she told him she loved him? If she’d lost him . . .

  No, she refused to go there.

  “Looks like they’re right on the other side of this wall,” Luke said.

  Quantum readied to punch yet another hole.

  Better back off. We’re coming through.”

  But instead of blasting her way through, Dove placed her hand on the wall. Particle by particle, it dissolved into a sand-like substance and fell away. Nice to know she could be subtle when she wanted to be.

  As the section of wall melted away, Morgause spotted Paul with Morgan, Morgana, and a black-skinned, green-haired woman she didn’t recognize. She rushed to his arms. “Paul, I—”

  “We told him,” both Morgan and Morgana said at the same time.

  Morgause looked into his eyes and finished, “. . . feel cheated.”

  He plopped a kiss on the end of her nose. “I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

  She stared deeply into his dark, sultry eyes. “We . . . I do love you so much.”

  “And I love you,” he answered. “All of you.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Maggie pulled herself together, centering on Morgause so she could stay in Paul’s arms as she absorbed all the experiences of her three aspects.

  Her trip into space, meeting Hanma in that other dimension, and his amazing kiss in the cockpit.

  “Let’s see if Quantum can get through that wall,” Paul said.

  Maggie reluctantly let him go. She would’ve loved to hold on to him longer, but now was not the moment.

  Dove rushed to the barrier, placing her hands over where John’s hand held splayed against the other side. She stared into his eyes for a moment before announcing, “Okay, everyone, stand back.”

  She took a step back and hit the barrier with a blast of energy. An almost blinding light built at the point of impact, the wall warped but held.

  “Maybe if I . . .” She stepped close again and put her hand against the surface. A pile of sand poured out, mounding up on the floor at her feet, yet still the barrier stood.

  Dove dropped to her knees with a sigh. “Ugh, what is this stuff?”

  “Miles of another dimension compressed into a prison,” El Brujo said from the other side.

  Dove puffed, breathing hard. “I can’t get through.”

  Maggie put a hand on her shoulder, pumping in yet another dose of healing energy. Quantum was on the edge of exhaustion.

  On the other side of the barrier, John Wylde put his hand on the surface once again. “Don’t hurt yourself, love. We’ll figure this out.”

  Chapter 31

  With a sizzle, a section of the back wall of the hanger melted away,
leaving a gaping hole that opened into a vast chamber beyond.

  Guinevere, in her blue and gold armor and cape, stood with a large contingent of Sha’Xari warriors. “Well. Now that the gang’s all here, we can get on with things.” A broad smile creased her face.

  A chill crept up Maggie’s spine as Guinevere strutted toward her.

  Guinevere’s features hardened. “I have to give you credit, you’ve been a tougher adversary than I expected. But it ends here.” She shifted her gaze to Quantum. “You have destroyed enough of my ship.”

  A bolt of energy fired from Guinevere’s hand encased quantum in a glowing sphere.

  Quantum shot beams from her hands, but the bubble held. She couldn’t break out. It had to be another use of that compressed dimensional material.

  If it was, then that meant Guinevere was the source, not some new technology the aliens possessed. Maybe taking out Guinevere would free Dove and the others.

  Maggie drew Fragarach and charged at Guinevere. “You’re right. This ends here.”

  The fight had always been between them, and Maggie was sick of the collateral damage. In any case, there didn’t seem to be any other option.

  She fired a blast of magical energy at Guinevere, focusing the spell through the sword to increase its power. It struck and sent the Fae Queen flying back.

  Hamna shifted to her dragon form, roared, and breathed a jet of flame on the charging Sha’Xari warriors. Hot, sulfur-scented air wafted from her direction. Aliens screamed and burned. Her big tail swept around and disrupted a group of aliens preparing to fire their beam weapons. Bodies went flying.

  Paul opened fire with his automatic pistol and Luke launched a grenade from his bulky weapon. The rata-tat boom echoed in the big chamber.

  Mary, as wolf-woman, jumped fully into the fray, throwing aliens around, kicking and clawing at Maggie’s side to help clear her path to Guinevere.