“I can't wait to see the big man again. I hope he's doing okay,” Sebastian said, sounding excited.
“Nefertiti said he was weak but otherwise back to himself. She said the first thing he did when he woke up was ask for food. That's the best we can hope for as long as he's been in a coma,” Xavier told them.
“The way you fly we'll be there before we left,” Chelsea said.
“I asked if anyone else wanted the helm. Besides, I've got more flight training than the rest of the Vanguard combined. It's not too fast for me to handle,” he told them.
As they crossed over Newfoundland, the shuttle rocked.
“What's going on?” asked Chelsea.
“I lost control. I don't know what's going on. Navigation isn't responding and we're changing course. Communications are offline,” Sebastian told them. “Even hatch controls are offline. We're flying by remote.”
“We have another issue,” said Xavier. “Internal comm has interference so we can't get a signal in or out. Every spectrum, every frequency. We're in the dark.”
“We're trapped in a reinforced steel box with no method of communication going who knows where,” Sebastian said thinking out loud.
Shortly after that, the navigation display went blank along with the rest of the console. The blast panels slid down covering the windshield.
“The last thing I saw before we lost visual was the sun. Based on the angle, we're heading north and likely pointed towards Greenland. If this is a malfunction it's a damn odd one. Get out the PEMES and grab emergency packs. We'll jump before we get too far north. If we can't open the bay door we'll blast it open,” Sebastian ordered.
“We have a problem,” said Xavier going through the emergency stores. “The PEMES, emergency supplies and provisions are all missing.”
“What?” asked Chelsea. “Are you sure they aren't just in the wrong locker?”
“Every storage locker on the shuttle has been emptied. I've gone through all of them. There are no supplies of any kind aboard. The only thing we have is what we have on. At least we have our standard gear,” Xavier told them.
“It's our own fault. We rushed out without doing a check of the shuttle,” Sebastian said. “Are you sure that was a legitimate transmission from Nefertiti?”
“Yea. It came from the medical center and was patched through. I had her on visual not just voice,” Xavier told them. “The channel was on our secured frequencies.”
“This had to be done from the inside. Someone was watching us close enough to wait for an opportunity. They had physical access to empty the shuttle and the technical knowledge to override it remotely. The manual controls are all disabled. We are sitting ducks,” Sebastian told them.
The shuttle continued its trajectory. They could feel momentum shifts as the shuttle sped up and slowed down and changed its heading numerous times. They felt it start to descend and touch down. The rear hatch opened onto a desolate scene. The area was a combination of rocks and frozen soil intermixed with patches of snow.
“The shuttle's path felt like it was designed to disorient us, but it ended up on a northern trajectory. We're in Greenland. This terrain is only going to exist in a few areas within that flight time. I am sure this is Greenland,” Sebastian said.
He put his mask on and the rest followed suit. They were covered in the bioweave and it would give them a degree of protection against the cold but not indefinitely.
“Now we just need to figure out why we're here and dropped in the middle of nowhere,” said Chelsea.
“Maybe someone wants you two out of the way,” Xavier replied. “This might be a way to remove you without killing you. If I wanted to get someone out of my way but didn't want to hurt them then that's how I would do it.”
“Do you put a lot of thought into eliminating us?” Chelsea said.
Xavier laughed. “There are a few people I think this world could do without but you two are definitely not on that list.”
“Over there. There's a structure. It looks like an antenna array with a dish on it,” Sebastian said.
Chelsea looked in the general direction. “I think you're right. It looks like a communications tower. I don't see anything else and if it can broadcast it's one step ahead of our comms. Let's check it out,” she said.
Xavier was looking in the same direction. “Either I'm blind or you're hallucinating.”
“When we get back to Camelot, remind me to teach you how to enhance your vision. It's there, maybe twenty miles. I can barely make it out but it's there,” Chelsea said.
They heard a howl in the distance followed by several more from different directions. The howls were deeper than a wolf and more melodic, almost musical.
“SHIT. Shit. Shit. Shit,” said Chelsea. “Amoraks. A pack of them from the sounds of it and they have us surrounded.”
“I hate those things,” said Xavier.
“I've never encountered one, but I've read their profile in the Warden database. I looked up all the fey locals before our trip to BC. Alaskan right?” asked Sebastian.
“Inuit technically. They were bred by ancestors of the Inuit before recorded history. Their range used to be much larger than it is. We've driven them back mostly to isolated parts of the permafrost and the volcanic areas of Greenland. If they remain isolated in the desolate tundra we haven't actively hunted them unless they encounter people,” Chelsea told him.
“They're just big wolves. We can handle some wolves,” said Xavier.
“Deviously intelligent, faster, stronger…they're a bit more than just big wolves. If you've never encountered them, they can use those musical howls as a weapon. They can use them to induce fear and panic and enough of them working together they can stun. Steel your nerves,” Chelsea said.
“I haven't faced them. Like Sebastian, I'm only familiar with them from their database entry,” Xavier said.
“They rarely travel in groups of more than four if it's a family, one or two if they have no young. It's rare but not unheard of for the females to have a litter of more than four pups. I heard four distinct howls so it's a family group with at least four old enough to hunt. They'll try to isolate one person. Watch each other's backs. They'll wait until dark. They have excellent night vision and are virtually immune to the cold. We have a few hours. If we can make that structure, we'll be okay. If we don't, be ready,” Chelsea told them.
“How many times have you fought these things?” asked Xavier as they continued to trudge over the barren terrain.
“Never,” replied Chelsea.
“Never? How do you know so much about them? They only inhabit bleak climates and rarely threaten humans. They're not a high priority,” he replied.
“Because a Warden must always be prepared. What would you do if you were faced with something you didn't know how to fight? Just because you're sent to hunt a particular fey doesn't mean you won't encounter others,” Chelsea told him.
“For example, what would you do if your shuttle was hijacked and you were dumped in the middle of nowhere with nothing but your blade and bioweave and hunted by a pack of amorak and didn't know how to fight them?” asked Sebastian.
“Point conceded,” said Xavier.
“They're skittish around humans so we have that going for us. They'll only attack if they can isolate one of us. They're smart and won't attack a group if they feel it’s a threat. Stay together,” Chelsea ordered.
The group had been walking and climbing across the unfriendly terrain for hours and they were getting tired as the sun started to descend. Occasionally they would hear the howls of the amorak, but they didn't get very close. The group continued working their way towards the tower. The ground's elevation was no longer horizontal and started to slope upwards as they neared the foothills. The terrain became rockier and parts of it all but impassible. They followed a narrow path that wound its way around and eventually opened into a small clearing surrounded by high stones on all sides. The area was perfectly flat, and the ring of stones fo
rmed an almost perfect circle. The stones seemed to be cut. Sebastian stopped and motioned the others to do the same.
“This doesn't feel right. There's only one path that we can find, and this area is not natural,” Sebastian said.
“It would make a great place for an ambush,” Chelsea said.
Behind them they heard the howls of the amorak, this time much closer and there were distinctly more of the musical howls.
“If someone wanted to kill us why didn't they just crash the shuttle or blow it up?” Xavier asked.
The howls got closer and were directly behind them.
“I think someone wants us to go into the opening. I have other plans,” Sebastian said. With that, he jumped toward the top of the stones. Normally he could easily clear the fifteen feet or so, but he hit a barrier of some kind going across the top and was knocked back down and barely managed to land on his feet.
“That shield is military technology. It's like the ones used on the moon for environmental containment. Those take a lot of power to generate and aren't available for civilian use. There must be generators nearby. If we can find those and take one out we can create a hole in it,” he said but stopped talking as the howls got closer.
“I guess we go in. It's an obvious trap but we have what sounds like an unusually large group of amorak behind us and they're herding us into it. If they have enough numbers I don't think even with our magic, we can resist those howls. At least in there we can spread out and fight,” Chelsea said.
“Let's do it,” Sebastian said.
They walked into the circular area and spread out. It was about a hundred feet in diameter. The walls were smooth, and the stones rose to between fifteen and twenty feet in most places. As the entered, a portcullis came up behind them cutting off their exit.
“Whoever did this locked out the amoraks. Curious. It would appear they were our incentive for coming in and nothing more,” Chelsea said.
All throughout the area small holes opened on the ground and poles started raising. There were well over a hundred of them. Along the poles were concentric rings that looked to be made of copper. They rose to a height that seemed to be about where the shield was at and stopped. Electrical arcs started dancing over them.
“Our armor can handle some electricity but those look like they're pretty strong,” Sebastian said.
Several ports started opening on the stone pillars around the area. Laser cannons extended from each one.
“Oh, this is getting better by the second,” Chelsea said.
Several more openings appeared in the floor and machines were raised up. They were vaguely humanoid but much taller. One arm ended in a cannon like those on the walls and the other ended in what was effectively a studded club. There were twenty of the droids.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” asked Xavier.
Sebastian drew his sword and blue flames arced over it. Chelsea and Xavier did the same.
“This seems excessive. Whoever did this had an easy opportunity to kill us. Why go through this trouble?” asked Sebastian.
“Good question,” said a voice coming from above them. “This is a game and the last person standing wins.”
They looked up and behind them, a platform was hovering with several people on it.
“My money is on the woman,” said another voice. “The two Americans are equal in strength, but she has more experience.”
“Don't discount his military training. GloCom people might surprise you,” said another voice.
“I'm betting on the Brit. I'll take the long odds,” said the first voice.
The platform was hovering on anti-grav thrusters and a dozen people were on it. They were all masked and wearing nondescript clothes. Their voices were augmented.
“So, we're to fight for your amusement? This is a game?” said Xavier.
“The most lethal of games my dear boy. You get a prize as well. The last one standing may go free and go on about your little mission to save the world,” said the first voice.
Chelsea heard Sebastian's voice in her head. Their comm was down but they had developed the ability to telekinetically communicate with each other. “It's going to be okay. This is a test. No one here will die,” he told her.
“How do you know?” she asked. “You're betting our lives on this.”
“No time. You have to trust me on this.” Sebastian told her. “Play along for now. I have a plan. I think the lasers are low powered and more for show. They're a model we used in the military for heat generation. They'll leave a nasty burn but not kill.”
“I don't know anything about lasers,” said Chelsea. “I hope you know what you're doing,” she replied.
“I was on a lunar laser base remember? I am very well versed in the technology,” he told her.
The laser embankments started firing as the droids approached the group. The Vanguard were pushed to their physical limits. They dodged the lasers and avoided the columns while engaging the droids. They were able to use the columns to their benefit as the droids were too large to move more than a single file between them. The arena was chaos as the three warriors were moving like gymnasts avoiding the lasers. They had taken out several of the droids but were getting roughed up themselves. They had taken more than a few shots from the pillars and the droids were fast. They were taking a beating but were slowly getting the droids down.
Chelsea heard Sebastian in her mind again. “Xavier, can you hear me. This is taking a lot of effort so if you understand me then think your response. Don't say it.”
“I... oh man that hurts...” Xavier replied.
“I'm sorry. Everyone, slowly maneuver in the direction of their platform but don't make it obvious. When I give the word focus everything you've got on the platform. Don't project your energy. Instead, summon it directly on the platform or the shield will block it. The closer we can get the easier it will be. Fire, telekinetic force, whatever you can muster and as much as you can generate,” Sebastian said.
The trio continued to fight and maneuver around the obstacles while avoiding the laser fire. They slowly worked their way towards the area where the platform was at. The droids were starting to surround them, and it looked like they were losing.
“NOW!” came Sebastian's voice in each of their minds.
The three of them stopped fighting and looked upwards. Blue flame from Sebastian engulfed the platform while electricity from Xavier shorted out its anti-grav thrusters. Chelsea grabbed the platform telekinetically and rammed it down into the shield as soon as the thrusters went offline. The platform rocked and most of the people on it fell off and landed on the shield. The remaining two rode the platform into the shield. As the platform hit, the shield flickered and deactivated. The platform crashed into the ground throwing the other two off it. The machines in the area deactivated when the shield went down.
Sebastian raced over to the large of the two and put his blade to the person's neck. “Alexander, did we pass your test?”
“Well done,” said Alexander as he pulled off the mask.
“Thank you for your assistance, Xavier. We couldn't have pulled this off without your help,” Alexander said.
“Your what?” said Chelsea to Xavier. She was quickly becoming irate.
“Don't blame him. It took a lot of convincing to get him to agree and only under the condition that under no circumstances would anyone be hurt more than a few bumps and bruises. It took a lot of convincing to get him to agree to this test,” Alexander said. “Your people are very loyal.”
“Why? What is the point of this?” demanded Sebastian.
“That is a private discussion. I know you want to be open with your team, but some things should not be public,” Alexander told him.
“I disagree. Secrets create mistrust. I need the trust of my people and the only way to do that is to be completely open. There have been too many secrets for too long,” Sebastian told him.
“How long have you known it was me on the platform?” asked
Alexander.
“Since the beginning. You referred to me as dear boy. Only you and Morgana do that and only someone with your connections could pull this off. The height and build matched you. There's also the location. After we met at the President's office, I did some research on Macedon Machines. You have business offices and several plants in Greenland. It would stand to reason that a company that specializes in building combat equipment would have facilities to test it,” Sebastian told him confidently.
“Outstanding performance. How could you be sure you wouldn't kill us crashing that platform?” asked Alexander.
“A Master should be able to handle a little fire and a crash. I don’t know who the rest are, but I didn't think they would die. You're not one to surround yourself with weak people,” Sebastian told him.
“Bravo. I would say you passed this with flying colors. I did not expect you to attack us and it so rare that someone makes a move I did not predict,” Alexander said with a smile. “I also didn't anticipate you would recognize us.”
“Always be ready,” Sebastian told him.
“Touché,” Alexander said with a laugh.
“Who are the rest of these people?” Chelsea asked.
“They work for me. They do various jobs I need done. They all have some magical ability and military backgrounds. They're a private security force. One of them you already know,” Alexander said as Samantha took her mask off and walked over.
“Samantha? You too?” asked Chelsea.
“Technically I'm not part of his security. I hadn't even spoken to him in years before we saw each other at Camelot. I'm the one who took control of your shuttle and rerouted it. I used to trust him implicitly until I thought he was cheating on me then after I found out why I realized how hard it was for him to do that and gave him another chance,” she said. “Besides, I don't do field work and getting the chance to see the Vanguard in action was something I couldn't pass up.”
“We were on our way to see Ra. He's awake. He's been in a coma since Syracuse,” Sebastian told him.
“I know. I've been financing the neurologists that woke him up. I've had the best medical team available working with him,” Alexander told them.
The Vanguard Page 22