Agents Of Chaos

by T. R. Cameron

  Diana pushed her hair behind an ear as the wind tried to deposit it in her coffee mug. “You have Tony Stark envy.”

  “Please. I’m way smarter. And I could do so much more if my boss would free up the cash.”

  She shook her head. “The mobile armory is the first priority. If we don’t get that figured out, Cara will kick both our asses.”

  “I’ll hide behind you.”

  “I’ll dodge. Then where will you be?”

  Kayleigh gave a theatrical sigh. “Why did I agree to stay in Pittsburgh again?”

  “You love us. Don’t deny it.”

  “Oh, I’m denying it.”

  Their discussion was interrupted by a faint buzzing. They both snapped their heads up to search the sky, and Diana moved the mug from her right hand to her left in case a blast of force was called for. The sound intensified before an Andercarr delivery drone swooped around the house across the street and moved toward its drop zone. The quad propellers lowered it to ground level, and the clamps released to deposit one of the three boxes it carried gently on the sidewalk, about halfway to the front door. They watched together as it rose, reoriented, and flew off swiftly.

  Diana shook her head. “It would be a perfect way to deliver explosives.”

  The tech shrugged. “Drones are here to stay. Andercarr’s security is solid, and we have a line into their transponders and flight information. Alfred would have alerted us if it wasn’t an authorized delivery. We should get more sensors into the neighborhood so we have more warning.”

  She nodded. “No argument there.”

  “And we need deterrents that Alfred can operate.”

  “We’ve talked about that.”

  “Yes, and you’re wrong, so we’ll keep talking about it until you realize that.”

  Diana looked at the roof of the two-story yellow brick house where Kayleigh wanted to mount a disguised turret atop the chimney. “I’m not giving your pet AI access to a rocket launcher. That’s a hard no.”

  The tech turned in a circle with her arms extended. “Look around you, boss. There are so many angles of attack here in suburbia. If your hope is secrecy, well, that’s maybe not entirely rational given recent events.”

  Ouch. Way to throw my last house getting burned down in my face. Too early for such cruelty. Not cool, blondie. “No on the rocket launcher.”

  “Rail gun.”

  “Are you insane?”

  The tech laughed. “More than one boyfriend has suggested that might be the case. How about a focused EMP?”

  “That’s a real thing?”

  “Well, perhaps focused is the wrong word. Directional. It would probably mess up the houses along the path but not in a permanent way. We’d rely on the fall to kill an inbound attacker, rather than the actual pulse.”

  Diana frowned. “Could the AI manage not to drop it into a house?”

  “Of course. And his name is Alfred. You should get used to it. Say it with me. Al-fred.”

  “Oh, my God, why did I agree to let you move in with us?”

  Kayleigh’s laugh was one of the best things about her, guileless and enthusiastic. “Because it’s your fault I had to come here. So, guilt. Plus the fact that you know life will be more fun with me around.”

  She shook her head with a chuckle. “You call this fun, do you?”

  Her response was preempted by the appearance of a gleeful dog and bouncy troll. Max started his day the same way he had every one since they’d moved in—he dashed across the entire property and barked at any birds, squirrels, or errant twigs or leaves that dared trespass in his domain. Rath rode on his back, his purple hair bobbing, and the tinkling sound of his laughter filled the gaps between the Borzoi’s outbursts.

  The tech laughed again. “Everyone except you seems to be having a great time, boss. There might be a lesson in that to consider.”

  She’s not wrong. “Fine. EMP sounds agreeable.”

  “And gas grenade launcher.”

  Diana sighed. She didn’t have a good argument against that one, other than the shattering of her dreams of a normal home life. Normal. Hah. Rath and Max killed that long ago. “FFS, yes, a gas grenade launcher.” She crossed to the Andercarr box, which was shrink-wrapped against any unexpected weather. Still a little cautious, she peeled the film back and opened it to find a small black jewelry container covered in cheap felt.

  Kayleigh stepped beside her and looked over her shoulder. “Engagement ring? Do you have something to tell us?”

  She barked a single laugh. “I need to have time to date to become engaged unless it’s a psycho stalker of some kind.”

  The tech chuckled. “So, Bryant then.”

  Diana groaned. “Maybe you’d better get those defenses up sooner rather than later.” She opened the box. It was a cheap-looking necklace with half a heart pendant at the bottom. A small note read “Congrats on the new place. Miss you. Also, my landlord’s a jerk.” It was signed with a stylized L. She pulled the chain out and held it up to dangle in the light. The letters “Be” and “Fri” were etched to the left of the jagged break in the half-heart.

  “Good advice. Be Fri. It’s like a sign from above that we should be able to fry any enemies. Let’s put a lightning gun up there.”

  Diana slipped the necklace over her head. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s what it means. And you’re merely upset that no one sends you Best Friend jewelry.”

  “Yeah, not since grade school, anyway.”

  She shook her head sadly. “Jealousy is not a good look on you, Kayleigh.”

  The tech laughed as she turned to wander back into the house. “Everything is a good look on me, boss, especially in comparison to some people who shall not be named but who should really think about dealing with their bedhead before making an appearance in public in the morning.”

  Max arrived and jumped on Diana before she could come up with a fittingly scathing reply, and she knelt to pet him. Rath took the opportunity to run up to her shoulder when the Borzoi rolled over on his back for belly rubs. “Did you sleep well, Rath?”

  “Yep, did.”

  “Anything exciting on patrol?” She’d mostly given up on worrying about the troll since he’d proven time and again that he was fully capable of taking care of himself. Mostly. She laughed to herself. He’s probably safer than I am at any given moment.

  He nodded. “Stupid pirate henchman. Followed but lost him.”

  “Even the drone?”

  “Tunnel.”

  “Drat.” He grinned in reply. “We need some sort of invisible launchable tracer. Maybe you should suggest that to Kayleigh.”

  “Will. Flying is awesome.”

  She laughed. Rath knew she’d been against the wings at first and still worried about them in unguarded moments. He’s getting better at working me. Now he only needs to add a little more subtlety, and he’ll be able to fool me. Mental note: keep him away from Sloan. “I’m glad. And the grapnel works fine?”

  An oddly satisfied expression slid onto his face before he responded. “Is excellent.”

  “Good.” Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out. A sigh followed, accompanied by a frown. “Hey, look, just when I thought I might have some time to work on the house, Nylene has decided it’s a training day.”

  Rath grinned. “Fighting mode. Must train. I could help.”

  She laughed at the idea of the Drow contending with a wound-up troll. “The timing is probably not right for that quite yet, my friend. I need to make sure I can defend you if she decides to be a b…witch about it.”

  His fangy grin showed that he’d caught the unfinished word. Dammit. I mean, darn it. Diana threw up her hands in defeat and headed back into the house, patting the pendant where it lay beneath her t-shirt. At least I’m able to safely portal down there now. That’s a plus, anyway. As she walked through the door, the tech’s mocking voice sounded from the basement. “Hey, keep it down up there, you sound like an elephant. Did you gain weight out in the yard or somet
hing?”

  Even though ninety-nine percent of her wanted to throw a force bolt down the stairs to gently adjust Kayleigh’s attitude, she headed for the coffeepot instead. We did agree that we were equals at home, so I can’t nail her for insubordination. Besides, I’ll need every ounce of magic power I have to deal with my caring and supportive mentor. She grinned, already thinking about her revenge. You got lucky this time, blondie. But of course, you realize this means war.

  Chapter Three

  Nylene had warned Diana against attempting to portal into her shop at any time other than when the Drow expected her, so she waited impatiently for seven-thirty to arrive. She’d spent the previous hour plus getting ready, fueling with coffee, and avoiding food. She tried not to eat before her practice sessions for fear of the ways her teacher might attack her body and mind. Throwing up in the training space was doubtless frowned upon. To say the least.

  As their lessons had progressed, Diana’s wardrobe had changed in self-defense. Gone were the more comfortable clothes she’d started with, replaced by black tactical boots and pants and a close-fitting leather jacket that would help absorb the scrapes when the woman’s magic blasted her to the hard basement floor. Her only nod to fashion was the concert t-shirts she always wore underneath. Today, it was the Cure, from the Disintegration tour. Maybe that’s not the best choice, actually. It might give her ideas if she saw it.

  But the time to change had passed. The clock ticked over, and she harnessed her will and sent it into her hands, then circled them to create the outline of the portal she wanted to bring into being. It wavered into reality, and she probed it carefully to ensure the correct barriers were in place. A trip to the World in Between was not on her agenda. The Drow hadn’t warned her that others could mess with her portals, but she also hadn’t told her they couldn’t. Paranoia was rapidly becoming Diana’s default state.

  She stepped through and the sense of dislocation that always accompanied portal travel unsettled her. Thankfully, she managed not to stumble and turned in a slow circle, looking for her teacher. The basement appeared to be empty. She frowned, then smiled as her metal bracelet grew cold on her wrist to signal the presence of illusion. On instinct, she summoned a force shield as the first ice blast materialized from a corner of the room. It struck her defense and wound around where it met the floor as the Drow tried and failed to knock her feet from beneath her. It may take a while, but I learn.

  She hadn’t made ice magic her own yet and had managed little more than a snowball when she attempted it. Instead, she reached for lightning, which she had shown some improvement with. Nylene had described it as strengthening the paths—a useful way to think about the different magics as power flowing down different channels. She spread her fingers wide and discharged a low-powered wave that radiated out in a flat arc. It revealed a body-sized oval slightly offset from the source of the ice blast, and she summoned and hurled a ball of force at it with a quick snap of her arm.

  Her teacher wavered into visibility and intercepted the sphere with one of ice, then flicked her fingers to send frozen darts hurtling at Diana’s face. She summoned her shield again and envisioned it as a curved buckler instead of a wall. The magic rebounded as it struck and bounced the shards back toward the Drow. Nylene stepped aside contemptuously, smiled, and fired cones of confined lightning at the trainee’s head and feet.

  She had time to swear before the blast at her legs slammed into her and knocked her down. The wicked energy licked at her body, put holes in her trousers, and scarred the leather of her boots and jacket. She growled and rolled back to vertical, relegated the pain to the background of her brain, and gathered the remaining lightning that sparked around her. Quickly, she added her own and returned the blow with attacks aimed at her teacher’s feet, stomach, and head.

  The Drow summoned a curved shield, and Diana marshaled her will and kept the magic flowing toward her. She increased the energy feeding the top stream, and the barrage forced Nylene to one knee as she battled the power that pushed into her. Hope grew, and she pushed more of her energy into the attack. The Dark Elf dove to the side and sent a low wall of force at Diana. She leapt over it, but as soon as she left the security of the floor, her teacher created tentacles to capture her.

  The shadowy limbs stopped her momentum as they slid around her body and trapped her arms. She struggled, but they only grasped harder, and she had a flash of fear at what would happen if these were the barbed versions she’d faced from the enemy leader they’d captured. Not for the first time, she wished she was allowed to wear anti-magic gear while training with the Drow.

  That would show her. Oomph. The tentacles tightened. She choked out a protest. “You’ve… made…your…point…” They didn’t release her and the inability to draw breath began to take a toll, judging by the blackness that crept in at the edges of her vision.

  Fine. Be that way. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d passed out during their training sessions. She gathered the breath that remained to shout a curse at her teacher. Instead, however, she held it as the woman’s gaze met hers and she spoke in a fierce whisper. “You can do this. Find your fire.”

  Diana’s mind plunged inward to the lava pool at her core. When she reached the cavern that sheltered it, she saw the mostly illuminated paths that barely managed to reach the molten flame were blocked by small walls of stone on either side. She twitched her telekinesis to adjust her trajectory and delivered a blast of force at the farthest one an instant before she careened into the closest.

  Both barriers evaporated, and fire traveled up the paths. Energy surged through her, more rejuvenating than breath could ever be, and she vaulted upward. She ascended at the pace of the rushing flame and opened her eyes on the external world as a burst of incandescence erupted from her suspended form. The shadow tendrils disintegrated, and she had the satisfaction of hearing Nylene shout in alarm before her mentor huddled under a hasty shield. Diana fell from three feet up and landed on her side with a groan.

  She rolled over to face her teacher and cackled in a mixture of disbelief and relief. “Your teaching style sucks, woman.”

  The Drow let the protective barrier fall and rose smoothly. Her all-black all-leather outfit was none the worse for wear, unlike Diana’s jacket, which was scarred and her trousers, which were mostly in shreds from the lightning, fire, and tentacle attacks. The Dark Elf smiled. “Were you not such a resistant learner, I wouldn’t have to go to such extremes.”

  Diana rested her face on the cool stone of the floor. “You’d do it anyway.”

  Nylene’s laugh, as always, communicated unexpected joy. “Yes. True. Now get off your ass, lazybones. We have much more work to do to teach you to control the flames.”

  Hours later, when her energy had run out and she’d used her allotted healing potion for the session—why the hell won’t she give me a damn energy potion too—Diana knelt on a cushion in the training space and drank the special tea that would lower her barriers to allow Nylene to see inside her. When she’d asked whether they might switch it around to let her into the Drow’s head, the woman had laughed darkly and replied, “Not while I live, Diana Sheen.”

  They materialized beside where her recumbent form lay on a large stone table. The paths and chakras were more visible now than they had been on her previous visit, and she could see the newly illuminated path of her fire magic, a crystalline orange that crossed the path of her pure white force magic. Where they met, the colors influenced each other, each branch extending away from the intersection shaded by the other color for a time. “Does this mean I can draw upon the same pool of power for force and for fire?”

  The Drow’s snowy white hair seemed lighter in this place with a little extra bounce as she nodded. “That is indeed what it means. To some degree, it will happen without direction. You should find both powers increased in strength. As you develop more control, you should be able to manipulate it with intention.” She sounded nervous for some reason.

  �
�What are you not telling me?”

  She sighed. “It is a dangerous line you walk, Diana. You wield great magical strength but do not have a deep pool of power with which to fuel it—a result of the human part of your heritage. If you aren’t careful, you might do irreparable damage to yourself.”

  “To my magic, you mean?”

  A shake of the head. “Your magic is not separate from you. If you go beyond your physical limits, you will pull on your magic. When you go beyond your magical limits, your physical self will be used as fuel. I’m sure you felt the weakness after your fire blast earlier.”

  She had. A thrill of fear shivered through her as she shook her head in denial. “Wait, you’re saying that I’ll kill myself with magic?”

  The woman turned from regarding Diana’s illuminated representation to face her. “No. If you expend it wisely, if you focus on maintaining your resources, you can use it safely. However, your past exploits do not suggest that such wisdom is your natural state.”

  “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re not all that nice?”

  The Dark Elf grinned widely. “All the time. I consider it a compliment.”

  “You would.”

  Nylene nodded and didn’t speak, merely gestured to wave away the imaginary world and return their consciousnesses to the basement of her shop. Once Diana had regained her bearings, her mentor asked, “So, do you feel stronger or weaker than you did when you arrived today?”

  She frowned and tried to get a sense of her power level. It was a slippery thing. “Weaker.”

  Another nod. “Logically. Using magic you are unfamiliar with is also more draining.” She produced a transparent plastic vial with a screw top. The liquid inside glowed sapphire. “This is an energy potion, as you are well aware. For most sensible folk, it’s no more dangerous than a healing potion as long as it is rarely used. For the unwise…” She stared at Diana with a raised eyebrow. “It can make one feel stronger than they actually are and lead them to consume more energy than the potion supplies.”