by M J Conlon
While a few of the mentalists and magicians had been made casualties of the first attack wave, it was predominantly a surge of the lower casts that littered the halls. Though now that Derick thought about it, many of the bodies that Derick had noted for Anath, were either mentalists or magicians, a fact that Derick only now began processing as he found his mind quickly sifting through the memories of the monsters that he had absorbed. Wow, that’s pretty cool, Derick thought to himself as he began going through more memories. He found that the stream that he was in opened up into at least two other tiers, of the Hitadel and that he had no clue as to just how far down this Hitadel actually went. After reviewing all of the informaiton that was available, Derick decided on his next course of action.
Either commit fully to the operation, or abort the operation, you cannot half-ass it. Derick thought the words of his instructors, the words of his commanders that had given him the ultimate leeway to do as he wished. It wasn’t until after he was retired from the field and the military as a whole that he learned that the commanders had given him such breath of operations in order to see him fail, yet he perseveered. Not through an over abundance of luck, nor skill, but through sheer tenasity. That is the situation that he found himself in currently. Twenty-two, Derick thought to himself, the number of missions that he had personally aborted over the years. After action reports and intelligence confirmed that eighteen would have been suicide missions, while the other four would have been likely successful, in that he would have survived, but the objective of each mission either wasn’t there or would have been irrelevant once acquired.
Each time Derick went with his gut, and it paid off. It also didn’t hurt that Derick could crunch numbers in his head faster than most people could realize that things like weather patterns, wind speed, traffic patterns, and the number of pedestrians randomly walking in an area. Derick always had a head for numbers, perhaps that is why being a portalist came so easily to him. The ideas associated with an artificier were similar, but less absolute certanties, as it had a number of variables that were open to interpretations and chances, rather than absolute truths.
Thinking about the options available, thinking about how far he had already come, the fact that he had a team waiting for extraction, and that this path offered the only true exit Derick resolved himself to double down. Scorched Earth it is, this wasn’t a true protocol, but rather a protocol that Derick perscribed for himself. This was the protocol status that Derick would mentally assign missions that had grown beyond his control.
Fourteen, the number of times Derick had changed a mission to the Scorched Earth Status. Now there were only two objectives, neutralize hostile forces to the extraction site, and get the team through the extraction site. There was one slight deviation from this extraction point as compared to the others, in this case the extraction point was somewhere under ground, or at least close to the heart of the building’s epicenter.
Filled with a renewed sense of resolve, Derick began whittling down the number of monsters that stood before him. Focusing on the minds that still existed before him he struck out at each mind, rendering what he could find to pulp. He moved crisply and determinedly as his mind cut its way through a superior number of opponents. Finally, he felt the creatures retreating. He could feel the lizard monsters getting recalled to the heart of the Hitadel to a place where Derick could feel no less than six lay-lines of power converging.
A last stand.
Derick sat, contemplating his new options, the new numbers that spiraled in his head. He estimated that based on the number of minds that retreated twelve, and the number of cubic feet that sat between him and the convergence point of the five lay-lines 64,000 cubic feet. There could be up to 2,000 more monsters to kill at least, not to mention the main hive mind directing everyone. Derick waited, to see if any minds came back, in an effort to retake the second tier of the city. After no less than ten minutes had passed and nothing changed, Derick let himself drift down until he saw a trail of light coming from up overhead. It took a second, but Derick soon realized that the light he was seeing came from a well that had been dug into the second tier of the city.
Derick grabbed hold of the side of the well wall and clung on for dear life. Derick pulled himself up until his feet finally left the water, where he cast levitation on himself and quickly climbed up the well. Once at the surface, Derick saw the carnage that he had created. He saw dozens of bodies and hundreds of limbs intertwined with each other. Not truley realizing what he was doing, Derick began absorbing the thoughts and expereinces of the monsters he had killed and the ones that he had forced to be killed by their brothers in arms. In the end how they died made no real difference, the only thing that truly mattered was that he was still standing and that the enemy forces had been neutralized. Derick found himself wondering about how many times he had used the word neutralized in an After Action Report (AAR), it was an easy way to state that he killed hostile forces. It dehumanized the whole experience, yet it was still tough to put to paper. I was even tougher to deal with after the fact, after his forced retirement. There should be a better way, Derick thought to himself as he went back to find Anath and her flock.
Fortunately Derick didn’t have to travel too far back, no sooner had he entered the courtyard that separated the tier one gate from the second tier then he found an angry Anath and five large birds that now all walked about on four paws. Derick could swear that he knew of, or at least had heard of the species that Anath and her flock were, but was unable to put a name to it. It is probably mental fatigue, Derick thought to himself.
“It is probably stupidity.” Anath replied mentally. Derick could tell that she was ticked and rightly so, but he couldn’t help but think of her as the small wonderous bird that flew overhead and lead the rest of her flock to freedom, not three days ago? Derick had to wonder about the time table, as down here in this dungeon there was little to no way to tell or keep track of time. He knew that the birds, not-birds Derick mentally corrected himself before continuing on with his thought, had rested no less than three times since they began their trip together. Each time Derick went on ahead to clear a path, Anath and her flock all rested. You all rested for the last few hours right? Derick asked.
“How could I, when you were clearly in danger.” Anath demanded, her words sounding as a statement of fact, as opposed to the question that they were.
Fair enough. I will need you all to help with the final assault. It seems that the enemy has fortified their positon and are preparing for a final stand.
“Then why are we still here?”
Because this is the only way I can see us all getting out of here. Derick thought back, anger finally coursing through his thoughts as he tried to go over the different probabilities of finding a second cluster of at least five lay-lines converging. For better or for worse, this is the only place for at least 87 miles in any direction that could have this cluster of lay-lines. Derick used his celestial vision skill to track the lines and was certain that the closest cluster in this dungeon that met his specifications for escape was exactly 87.3 miles to the southeast, but there was no way to tell what guarded that exit point.
“Miles?” Anath asked.
What are you on a Metric system? Then Derick thought about ways to convert Anath’s current steps to feet, then to the 5,280 feet in a single mile. Then multiplying that to the 87.3 miles, which was 460,944 feet or roughly 384,120 steps assuming no extra steps would have to be taken by going around obstacles such as doorways, rivers, and monsters.
“Fine.” Anath huffed angrily in Derick’s mind as she was clearly getting angered by the sheer volume of numbers that Derick was able to extrapolate in a single second.
Derick led Anath and her flock to the first out cropping of bodies. In seconds the bird like creatures began tearing into the dead monsters, apparently able to see that Derick had already taken the memories and experinces from the dead bodies. That or they figured I already had my chance and was fr
eely offering the bodies. Having already gone through the carnage, Derick quickly marked the bodies of the monsters that prioritized mental acumen over physical prowess.
The flock ate everything they could. Derick also used the time to fetch a few pales of water for the not-bird creatures, which they drank greedily. Derick started with Anath, giving her the first bucket of water. Then proceeded to give each of the other members a bucket of water for their own. Derick didn’t have to choose or try to remember who was in charge, the flock did it for themselves lining up in a predetermined order and waiting patiently for their water. It was a surreal experience to see the creatures all line up on their own and wait expectantly for their chance at water.
Finally, once the last not-bird had been served and the last of the bodies had been pecked clean for scraps of meat, Derick led the flock out of the second tier to the court yard that separated the second tier from the third tier gate system. As they approached Derick felt one lone mind that felt gray, does that mean he is neutral? Derick thought about how his mind would attributed being neutral and confirmed with himself that gray would be the way his mind would attribute someone acting neutrally.
Derick held up his hand in a halting gesture for his flock. Instantly the not-birds all fell into line behind Derick, Anath as usual taking the lead position. Derick approached the lizard creature that stood straight upright on two legs, it had four arms and no less than six antennae on its head. Derick could feel the mind of this creature, he could feel it pulse and radiate power and dominance. This was not the dark entity that he felt, but he could tell that this being of immeasurable power worked for the unspeakable power.
“Greetings traveler.” The being before Derick spoke with words that sounded like they were flowing through water. Then Derick realized that this was just a vessel that allowed the being of unspeakable power to interact with the outside world.
Derick nodded, not wanting his voice to betray the awe he was feeling at the fraction of mental power he was feeling emanating from the creature before him.
“I have a proposition.” The conduit of a being before him spoke.
Derick felt his blood run cold, and a faint tremble fill his heart. These were odd emotions for Derick, as he had just spent the better part of three hours stuck in a cool stream of water, where he felt fine by all accounts. Yet, hearing the words come through the monster that stood before him set off his mental warnings.
“I am listening.” Derick replied, as coldly and evenly as possible.
“You no doubt can see that there is no way for you to succeed. Even if you kill every monster, you will not be able to take out my Master.” The being before Derick spoke.
Derick nodded his agreement.
“Yet, my Master is stuck here on this desolate plane of existence unable to escape. She offers a compromise to you portalist.”
Derick wondered how they knew he was a portalist, then looked at his robes and thought about his eyes and hair which likely also gave away his profession.
“Go on.”
“You open a portal to any planet you choose, my Master and all of her followers leave here never to return.” Derick waited, not wanting to nod in affirmation or move in any way to signify consent. The being continued. “In exchange, you will get the knowledge that you seek and your own ability to use the portal to take you wherever you wish to go.”
Derick waited, making sure that this was all the being before him would say.
“What assurances do I have that you will not attack me, or mine?” Derick asked, gesturing to the creatures behind him for clarification that he wanted to ensure Anath and her flock’s protection as well.
“None, which is why it is beneficial for you to send my Master and her servants through first.”
“What of you?” Derick asked, realizing that the being before him never mentioned his own safety.
“I am an offering of good will. Should you accept, which you should. I will be yours to kill. Upon my death you will gain the missing knowledge of the artificer and knowledge that I speak truly for my Master and that she only wishes to leave this prison.”
Derick thought about the deal, did the calculations twice, and realized that if this was true then this would be his only way of succeeding. If this was a trap, well then he would be no worse for wear as he was likely to die in this operation anyways.
“I accept the terms and conditions, under one further stipulation.”
“Yes?”
“I will send your Master to another planet, but in the years that are to follow she is never to go to, nor set up actions against the planet Triton. Nor is she to set up any plans that target me directly or indirectly. This shall be for all intents and purposes a neutrality pact.
To further incentivise this plan, I too will swear that I will not go to her planet, nor will I set up actions that directly or indirectly impact her or her plans as I understand them. Are these acceptable conditions?” Derick asked, forcing his body to remain still as he focused through the panic that threatened his thought processes.
The being before Derick tilted its eyes back as it relayed the information, then looked back upon Derick with glowing red eyes. Once the red eyes looked upon Derick, he knew he was now looking directly at the eyes of the Master. He could feel judgment and power coursing over and through his body as her gaze settled over him and judged him in a second.
“Your terms are agreeable, though I would ask that you tell me which of the four prime planets you will send me and my minions to?” A deep female voice asked that was full of power and dominance.
Derick thought for a second, then nodded to himself as he realized where he would send this unfocused weapon.
“I will send you and your minions to the planet Argos, in the Tyranos cluster.” Derick stated as a matter of fact. The being seemed to evaluate Derick’s words, before nodding in agreement.
“This is acceptable. Now take this the sign of good faith.” With that, the being that stood before Derick had three of its four arms move up quickly to its chest, before exposing a pale chest cavity. Once exposed, the last hand withdrew a knife and plunged it quickly into its own beating heart.
“Remove the knife, and my down payment of knowlege will be yours.” The Master’s voice said quickly in Derick’s mind.
Derick found himself moving forward quickly, grabbing the dagger unopposed in his right hand, while positioning his left hand against the monster’s chest for leverage. In a quick fluid motion Derick pulled the blade free, before being caught up in the mental throws for domiance, as Derick’s mind raced forward trying to gain access to the forbidden knowledge that lay locked away in this being’s mind. The mental fortitude that was being displayed by the being before him was incredible, and draining to oppose. He felt a river of energy and power rushing over him, as the residual power of the Master was being released back into the aether, which now had to flow through Derick to get out to the world as a whole.
Derick felt thoughts, feelings, and emotions that the being he just killed? Let die? Coursed through his mind. He felt a torrent of emotions, thoughts, and fears flow through his mind until finally the sweet feeling of release hit him, as the monster he had just killed was able to finally die.
Derick survived the flow of power and emotions, rather than his traditional conquering of the tide, which he had done previously. Once at the center of the being’s power he accessed the power node at the center and was filled with arcane secrets and formulas. He could feel how experimentation and fluidity were the trademarks of the artificier.
Only after the knowledge of the artificier, along with the memories of the slain monster entered Derick’s mind did he realize the gravity of the choice he had just made. Derick was releasing a nuclear weapon onto a planet, one that would forever alter the mechanics and options of the resurrection board forever. Derick thought about ways he could alter his plans, alter the outcome, yet he was trapped. He had committed his word to sending the Monster and her minions t
o Argos and while he could always fudge the numbers he never liked to lie.
Derick quickly went through the memories of the monster he just killed. In the memories he found a detailed layout of all the different tiers of the Hitadel, a structure that Derick now knew was built by a race of beings that were even older than the known celestial races. He could recall how there were easily over 2,000 troops waiting to ambush Derick if he tried to oppose the Master’s will. Or especially if I try to betray her trust now.
Derick let Anath devour most of the beast before him, before she stepped aside and let the others take their fill. Each of the bird-like-creatures took a strip of meat before following Derick and Anath to the court yard that separated the tier five and tier six structures.
“Stay here.” Derick spoke out loud, so all the creatures could hear him. “If I do not return with a day’s time, assume I am killed. Otherwise know I will come back for you.” Derick stated.
Anath moved forward as if to protest, but then only lowered her head to nuzzle Derick’s head. When did she get bigger than me? Derick thought about how large Anath was now, and how quickly she seemed to be growing.
“We will all be waiting here for you.” Anath replied mentally, before adding “for what it’s worth, I think you made the correct choice. Please continue to make the correct choices.” She added the last thought as an affirmation of his stubbornness as much as anything.