by Ky Tyrand
Je’nna’s armor materialized around her nearly as quickly as her pistols came up.
“Wait!” Ki’ara stopped her from shooting the snarling beasts.
The animals were completely focused on Je’nna. Unlike last time, they didn’t seem to show Ki’ara any concern whatsoever, allowing her to pass and place her palm on a sloping console – matching it with a green handprint that glowed upon its surface.
Lights came on around them, and the defending pack vanished, leaving Je’nna to catch her breath.
“I’m sorry, I should have warned you about the wolves,” said Ki’ara.
Je’nna’s helmet opened, dematerialized into the compartment behind her neck. “Ya think?”
Ki’ara let out a breath as a tingling of goosebumps ran up her spine. She was inside the walls of Stronghold – her home since she had been born – and it felt strange.
The console lit up, displaying the same holographic schematics as last time: an exoskeleton suit and blueprints of a building.
Beyond that were the illuminated cabinets which curved around the perimeter of the room, each filled with a plethora of weapons and gear.
When Ki’ara had first discovered this place, she couldn’t identify half of the items on display. But since meeting Je’nna, and CST-1, several of them actually made a lot more sense. Guns similar to those that the Sanctuary soldiers used; Mapping and communication devices like Je’nna had on her wrists; Harnesses matching the one she herself wore, that would presumably form a shell of armor around the user; as well as various attachments to merge with them, the uses of which Ki’ara could not determine at a glance.
Je’nna’s eyes were wide, like a kid in a candy store, as she walked around pointing out special items that she either could, or could not, identify. “What is this place?” she asked.
Based on the access Je’nna had to Sanctuary’s supply of hi-tech equipment, Ki’ara was a little surprised to see her in awe of what could be found here. “I’m not sure, exactly,” she admitted. “I happened upon it by accident.”
Je’nna stopped when she came to an empty cavity amongst all the treasures. “I wonder what was in here?”
“That was where I found these,” said Ki’ara, holding up her Niksuru.
“This is where you got them?”
“Yes.”
“And they supposedly belonged to your mother?”
“That’s what Sir Grue’gan says.”
Je’nna nodded, stating, “So all of this stuff was hers?”
Ki’ara shrugged. She hadn’t really thought about it. But, based on the size of the clothing and armor, it made sense. They were too small to fit any of the Stronghold men.
“Then it’s yours, now,” said Je’nna.
Ki’ara gave her a blank stare. She hadn’t considered that, either.
“Think about it,” Je’nna went on. “Your mother is gone. Your father is gone. You have no brothers or sisters. Unless things are passed on differently here, this stuff all belongs to you. But then again,” she shrugged, “I guess Stronghold belongs to you, as well.”
Ki’ara cringed. She knew that she had to make her claim on Stronghold. But that would mean defeating Tho’ran and his followers, which seemed to include the New Gods. A big task. And right now, all she could think about was saving her Guardian. Besides, when she did face Tho’ran, she wanted Sir Grue’gan at her side. There’s no way I could face Tho’ran without him.
“That’s weird,” said Je’nna.
“What is?” asked Ki’ara. Apart from everything about this place.
“That old thing.” Je’nna was looking on an otherwise empty shelf at a ratty leather-wrapped scabbard that looked about a thousand years old. The sheath was by itself, with no sword to protect. “Everything else is so new and hi-tech. Seems odd to keep something like that, without even a blade to go in it.”
Ki’ara hadn’t even noticed the irregularity. With all the state-of-the-art weapons and gadgets filling the cabinets, she must have passed right by the old scabbard a dozen times without a second thought. But Je’nna didn’t miss much.
“Yeah, that is weird,” she agreed. Just not a lot of use to them at the moment. “Do you see anything that could help us?”
Je’nna shrugged. “Hard to say. Do you have a plan?”
“The plan is: we climb into the ventilation ducts and crawl to the prison.”
Je’nna scowled. “Doesn’t sound like fun.”
“It’s not,” admitted Ki’ara, shaking her head. “That reminds me…” She stepped over to the cabinet that held the harness attachments and began examining them.
Je’nna followed. “What are you looking for?”
“It’s difficult getting out of the prison,” said Ki’ara. “Are these all Gravity Regulators?”
“No,” said Je’nna, “Just this one.”
Ki’ara frowned. “It would be better if we each had one.” She described how she had used her Niksuru to climb out last time.
“We could use some rope,” muttered Je’nna, as she walked along the display cases, scanning over the countless items. Her face perked up when she came to a section of bracelets and bands. She reached in, grabbing one of four silver straps that almost looked like thin, sleek shackles.
“What are those?” asked Ki’ara.
Je’nna smiled as she set it on her wrist. “If they’re what I think they are…” The device closed around her arm as she let her Mu’turi filter through. The girl let out a chuckle as a small metal disk flipped from the inside of her wrist into the center of her palm. “We don’t even have any of these in Sanctuary…”
Though much smaller, the little puck reminded Ki’ara of the special attachment points, behind the neck and lower back, of the harnesses they both wore. “What is it?” she asked, curiously.
“Land Mag,” said Je’nna, as she reached into the display case and gathered the three remaining collars. She quickly slipped them on – one around her other wrist, and one on each ankle.
“What the heck is a Land Mag?” asked Ki’ara.
“It works pretty much the exact opposite of a Grav-Regulator.”
“Which is how?” Though intrigued, Ki’ara had no idea how that would benefit them.
“Energies of the Land and everything on it act like a great big magnet. The G.R. uses technology – which is stored inside inter-dimensional compartments – to reverse the polarity. But, instead of reversing the polarity, Land Mags increase it.”
Ki’ara shook her head. “How is that supposed to help us?”
“Watch this,” Je’nna winked, hopping up onto the sloping console. Ki’ara watched curiously as the other girl balanced herself to the highest point, to where she could reach the low ceiling. She pushed her palm up to the underside of the tiles. A grin spread across her face as her second hand went up to the ceiling beside the other.
Ki’ara gasped when Je’nna’s feet lifted off the console.
While there was nothing for her fingers to grab hold of, Je’nna’s hands appeared to be glued in place with a strong enough bond to keep her from dropping. Her incredible strength made it easy for the girl to pull her legs up, until the balls of her feet touched the ceiling as well. They clung to the smooth surface, just like her hands, allowing Je’nna to position herself in a way that completely defied the laws of gravity.
Ki’ara watched in amazement as Je’nna pulled herself along, crawling upside-down along the ceiling, just like a spider. After a short distance, Je’nna released the bond on her feet and lowered her legs, allowing herself to dangle by her hands alone. Ki’ara was always amazed by how much strength was packed into the other girl’s little body.
Je’nna released the Land Mag’s hold, and she dropped softly to the floor. There was no masking her delight.
It was good to see Je’nna like this after what had happened with Darius. The only time Ki’ara had witnessed her friend showing any sign of joy was when she flirted with the leader of CST-1. After his death, Ki’ara
feared she would never see Je’nna smile again.
“That’ll do,” said Ki’ara.
“Yes, it will,” Je’nna agreed. “Now what?”
“Now we go,” answered Ki’ara, reaching over her own shoulder to click the Grav-Regulator into place. Now that she understood which end was up, and how it fit together with the disks on her upper and lower back, it wasn’t difficult to lock the device to her harness without Je’nna’s help. “This way,” she said, leading her friend to the duct vent near the floor.
2
Just inside the duct was the vertical shaft that Ki’ara had fallen down when she’d first discovered the Wolf Room.
Climbing up was easy for both girls, especially with the tech they’d just procured. In no time at all they were up above the prison level, crawling through the maze of narrow ducts that circulated fresh air throughout the castle.
Last time, Ki’ara had relied on her Niksuru to light the way. Now, she had the visor with Night Vision. And, with her helmet closed, she was able talk quietly with Je’nna through their communicators.
Je’nna had spent a great deal of time fiddling with her helmet’s tech in front of the fire last night, and was somehow able to get it working again, with perhaps a little more static than before. “I feel like a rat,” she complained.
“Not a rat,” said Ki’ara, remembering what Sir Grue’gan had called her. “A mouse. It’s not like we’re crawling through a sewer.”
“Right. A mouse. Whatever. Is it much farther?”
“Don’t tell me you have a problem with tight spaces, too.”
“I don’t,” said Je’nna. “Particularly.”
“It must have been terrifying, being pulled into the ground like you were.” Ki’ara was referring to last night, when living roots had caught hold of Je’nna and dragged her under the jungle floor.
Je’nna didn’t answer, and Ki’ara didn’t bring it up again.
The prison wasn’t far at all. Ki’ara was still surprised that she hadn’t been able to find her way back to the Wolf Room last time. It was a straight line, such a short distance away. It makes no sense, she told herself. Even finding the strange chamber with the Abnukadin had been difficult, despite being such a unique location. It was as if whoever built it – perhaps her own mother – didn’t want anybody to find it. Not even other Descendants.
“It’s just up here,” whispered Ki’ara. “Keep quiet, there’ll be guards at the door, and we have to pass right over them.”
The girls moved along silently, each having used their Mu’turi to add padding to their wrists, elbows, and knees.
But when they reached the grate that looked down over the entrance, the pair discovered that nobody was standing guard.
“Huh,” muttered Ki’ara.
Both of them knew what that meant. The prison was either empty, or none of its occupants were of any significance. A chill ran down Ki’ara’s spine at the thought that To’mas may have already been executed. That would be a devastating blow, in more ways than one.
About to question whether they should continue, an odd noise up ahead piqued their curiosity.
It sounded like a voice, though they couldn’t make out the words.
The girls shrugged and kept going, hearing the sound again a short distance ahead. Now they were certain it was somebody’s voice, though weak and unclear, repeating three words that blended together into indistinguishable sounds.
It was coming from the prison.
“I don’t like this,” said Je’nna, as she followed Ki’ara over the grates that looked down into the prison’s office.
“Neither do I,” agreed Ki’ara. “But we’re here, and have what we need to get back out.” So long as I can find the Wolf Room this time. “I think we should at least take a look.”
Je’nna replied with her standard reluctant agreement, “Yeah, whatever.”
One thing Ki’ara couldn’t help but notice was that the last grate – the one located above the filing cabinet from which she’d climbed up last time – had been closed and re-latched. That made sense, and even gave Ki’ara some hope. Her thinking was that if To’mas had been executed, they may never have noticed the open grate, recessed up in a vertical shaft that was tucked against the wall. However, if To’mas had escaped, they would’ve searched high and low, and it certainly would have been discovered.
There was no need to open it this time. Not with their new tech.
Instead, Ki’ara lifted open the grate above the desk. The same way she’d gotten in last time. The girl remembered how heavy it had been. This time, it was much easier. Ki’ara knew that the metal hadn’t gotten lighter. The only explanation was that she was getting stronger.
3
With the sound of the three unclear words luring her in, and the G.R. activated just enough to slow her descent, Ki’ara dropped into the room. She landed softly on the desk, before hopping to the floor.
Je’nna was right behind her. She landed nearly as gently, even without a Grav-Regulator.
Their helmets opened.
The dimly lit room was exactly as Ki’ara remembered it. A desk in the middle, cabinets against the walls, and a couple of chairs were the only furniture. A heavy door against one wall led back into the corridor, while a massive iron gate on another was the secure entrance to the prison cells.
Ki’ara darted for the gate, peering between the bars for any sign of To’mas. The cell he had been kept in was still the only one occupied, given away by the clear shield that covered the face of the cubicle.
That was where the words were coming from.
“Hits … hey … shap,” is what Ki’ara heard.
“To’mas?” she whispered.
“Hits … hey … shap,” was the only response.
Her finger went to the button that released the gate’s locks. The mechanisms buzzed, clicked, and groaned as they unlatched. Ki’ara pulled on the bars, and the heavy gate swung open.
She dashed in, nearly touching the clear shield – which didn’t look much different than glass – before she felt the static charge of the energy field, stopping her in her tracks. Through the barrier, she could see a person lying on a cot, tucked under a dirty blanket.
“To’mas?” she called again.
“Hits a…” the figure moved, rolled over and looked up.
Ki’ara found herself looking into the eyes of her childhood friend. “Petch?”
The boy’s eyes had dark circles under them; his hair, dirty and matted.
Ki’ara wanted to cry when she saw his condition. She dropped down to him, dangerously close to the shield. Were it not for Je’nna’s quick hands catching hold of her, the Princess would have been fried.
“Gods, Petch, are you alright?” asked Ki’ara, not even realizing Je’nna had just saved her.
“Your Royal Highness?” The boy sat up, groggy and confused.
“Yes, Petch. It’s me, Ki’ara,” she said. “Hang on – I’m going to get you out of there.” She backed away, looking over the glass-like shield for a way to shut it down.
“No!” the boy waved his hands, suddenly lucid. “No! It’s a trap!”
4
Three words.
They suddenly made sense.
How long had the boy been repeating them? Even starved and half asleep, he had been trying to warn her – to prevent her from coming in.
“It’s a trap,” he’d moaned, again and again, in hopes that she would hear and take heed.
It had the opposite effect. But whether Petch wanted it or not, he needed saving, and Ki’ara was thankful to have been baited here.
Je’nna’s blasters were already in hand, gaining her a wary look from Petch.
“It’s okay,” Ki’ara assured him, as she located a control panel near the gate. “This is Je’nna. She’s with me.”
“Hi,” said Petch, pushing himself off the cot to stand on his prosthetic legs.
Je’nna’s eyes went wide when they fell on the composite limb
s.
The boy pretended not to notice as she blinked her eyes up to meet his.
“Hey,” she replied, awkwardly looking away. Hastily turning her attention from the prisoner, Je’nna pushed Ki’ara – whose fumbling on the control panel wasn’t doing a thing – to the side. She raised a pistol to the screen and fired, shattering it into a thousand pieces.
The shield flickered and vanished. But, just as abruptly, the iron gate let out a groan. Ki’ara dove for it, an instant too late. The heavy bars rumbled shut, latching themselves with a loud click and a clunk.
The heavy gate had never closed on its own before. Or at least it hadn’t when Ki’ara used it.
But the mechanisms were there, and had probably been operational before the collapse.
Rather convenient that they should suddenly work now.
“It’s a trap,” repeated Petch, with a worried look. “They knew you would try to rescue me.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” argued Ki’ara, as she scanned for a way out. The button that unlocked the gate was on the other side, out of sight and out of reach. “I didn’t even know you were in here.”
Petch gave her a surprised look. “I overheard the Guardsmen say they were going to see to it that everyone stepping through the city gates would find out.”
“We didn’t come through the gates,” Ki’ara informed him.
Petch tried to reason out what that could possibly mean. When he couldn’t come up with an answer, he opened his mouth to ask the question, but was interrupted by Je’nna, sniffing the air.
“Do you smell that?” she asked.
Ki’ara nodded. The odor was unlike anything she had ever smelled before.
“Look.” Petch pointed through the bars at the vent above the desk. Wisps of faint blue smoke were billowing from the very route the girls used to get in.
Petch jumped when the brilliant blades of Ki’ara’s Niksuru burst from the tops of her wrist. There was a dark look on her face that made the others step back.