by Ky Tyrand
The door was locked.
There was a time when this might have been a serious problem.
Not anymore.
Ki’ara’s blade plunged into the thick wood panel, directly beside the handle, before she stepped back and kicked. The door burst open, nearly falling off its hinges. Perhaps one day Ki’ara would learn how to pick locks. Today was not that day.
“Subtle,” muttered Je’nna, as she followed the Princess through the portal, a little surprised by what she found.
It felt like a continuation of the corridor. But, rather than smooth block walls, there were now shelves on both sides, filled with rows upon rows of books. They looked old but well kept, bound mostly in leather, and neatly organized.
Je’nna had never seen so many books in her life. Though she suspected there were many in Sanctuary, they were not something she sought out. Je’nna hated books. All of those… words. Though she’d tried to read tales about people and their adventures, the girl had always gotten bored and put them down, finding them dull compared to real life.
The only stories she’d found the least bit interesting were about a woman known as the Angel of Avalon; a great hero that protected the land from evil. Some say she was a real person, and responsible for the Collapse. Many believe she was killed by it, while others think she was only a myth. Real or not, Je’nna thought she was amazing. A strong woman, willing to fight for what she believed in. Je’nna only wished that she herself could be like that.
She shuffled along behind Ki’ara, refusing to admit that, legs or not, the boy on her back was getting heavy. When they reached the end of the strange ‘corridor of books’, the ceiling and walls opened up to a giant chamber, and Je’nna suddenly realized that the tomes she’d just passed were only a tiny fraction of the number this place held. They’d come in through a back door, and the hallway was just a single aisle – one of dozens on the floor – and this was only the bottom level of a library that appeared to go on forever!
Tiers of balconies with dark hardwood railings stacked up several floors above them, holding layer upon layer of shelf-lined aisles, each filled to capacity with books of all shapes and sizes.
In the middle of the giant room stood two central columns that not only supported the ceiling high above, but also connected the balconies by way of bridges that joined with platforms encircling each pillar. It was the same on every level, as high as they could see. At the very top were shaded windows and skylights that allowed filtered light in, but no direct sunlight that could damage the towering room’s precious contents.
Wide circular stairwells, made of the same dark hardwood as the balcony rails, spiraled up at each end of the long room like giant corkscrews, twisting all the way to the top.
“Whoa,” Je’nna gasped.
“Pretty awesome, right?” said Ki’ara, dragging her along. “It’s rumored that there are more books kept here than anywhere else in Avalon.” Perhaps an impressive stat, but for some reason it had always saddened Ki’ara.
Plenty of books, but for some reason there were no people, which was unnerving. Ki’ara was used to seeing the Library full of scholarly types doing their reading and research. If the fortress was under lockdown, everyone had probably been ushered out, sent back to their rooms.
Shouting from outside made Ki’ara jump. “Hurry!” she said, urging Je’nna to press on.
The door they’d entered through burst open, as did the main entrance, and at least two others. Royal Guardsmen spilled in from every direction.
Je’nna’s hands slid from Petch to the grips of her pistols. In the blink of an eye, they were levelled on the oncoming groups of guards. The only thing holding the boy was Je’nna’s Mu’turi, which locked his hands to her shoulders, and his body to her back.
“Jump,” whispered Ki’ara.
Resisting the temptation to squeeze her trigger fingers, Je’nna turned. “Huh?”
“Crouch down, and jump.”
With the weight of the boy on her back, Ki’ara’s request seemed out of the question. Je’nna had no idea what the Princess had planned. Probably something stupid. Nevertheless, Je’nna did as she was instructed, squatting slightly before trying to leap as high as she could. As she came up, Ki’ara’s hands caught hold of her armpits, lifting her off the floor.
With her Grav-Regulator maxed, Ki’ara was somehow able to get all three of them airborne. Barely. But while her body was convinced it should float upward, her hands desperately clung to the payload, which felt like it was sinking and slipping every moment they were off the ground.
As it was, she was only able to get them to the balcony one level up. And even that was a stretch. By the time Je’nna caught hold of the wooden railing, Ki’ara was over top of her, hanging upside down with her feet high above.
“That thing’s made for one person,” said Je’nna, as she scrambled over the railing with Petch still on her back. “Not three.”
“We need to get up there…” After pulling herself onto the balcony beside Je’nna, Ki’ara pointed. “To the top floor.”
There were several escape tunnels that led out of Stronghold. But the only place Ki’ara knew where to access them from was a secret stairwell within the Royal Chambers. And Ki’ara knew of a way into those suites through a passage hidden on the top floor of the Library.
All they had to do was get there.
But the Library was seven levels high, and they were only on the second floor. It had taken far more strength than Ki’ara was expecting in order to hang onto her friends. Even if the G.R. could lift them all, Ki’ara didn’t think she could do it again. Certainly not five more times.
“What’s up there?” asked Je’nna.
“A way out,” replied Ki’ara.
Je’nna’s eyes darted as the soldiers charged in and separated. Most headed for the two large stairwells. There was a smaller group, however, that remained on the first floor lobby, drawing blasters and shooting up at the fugitives. Among them was the Lieutenant in charge of the breach at the prison, giving orders and directing his subordinates to open fire.
The girls crouched, somewhat protected by the balcony floor, as blaster fire tore into the ceiling above them, scorching the wood and causing splinters and chunks to rain down.
“Can I shoot them, now?” asked Je’nna.
“Yes, but…”
Je’nna rolled her eyes. “I promise I won’t kill them,” she declared, as she holstered her pistols and held out her hand.
Ki’ara knew what the other girl was after, and turned so Je’nna could reach the long gun from her back.
The rifle fascinated Ki’ara. So smooth and sleek. The way that it could be used with or without the extended barrel was brilliant, but couldn’t have been easy to construct. Especially with such power and precision. She couldn’t help but wonder if whoever built it was also responsible for making her own Niksuru. It seemed an odd coincidence that both weapons not only harnessed Blue Energy, but were incredibly intricate and versatile.
Je’nna quickly fired – first at one stairwell, then the other.
With the barrel still folded, the blasts spread wide, knocking over numerous soldiers on both sets of stairs. The lead pursuers were hit by the impact of the percussive blasts, and they in turn took out several more below them as the shooting victims toppled or slid down to trip up the followers.
Her third shot was down at the group on the lobby floor, one level below them, which sent the soldiers scattering in all directions at once.
But Je’nna was only one person, and many of the Guardsmen had firearms of their own. The girl received a volley of blasts the moment she put her head up, forcing her to duck out of the way. She had her helmet on to protect her, but her armor didn’t safeguard the boy on her back.
And these men were shooting to kill.
“Let go of Petch!” said Ki’ara, spotting the danger and recognizing that Je’nna was moving slower than she would need to.
Je’nna dodged as blaste
r shots ripped into the bookshelves behind them.
“I can take him,” Ki’ara assured her.
“Fine,” said Je’nna, releasing her Mu’turi as Ki’ara eased the boy down.
Petch let out a groan as he slid to the floor. The sounds he made almost suggested he might be waking up.
“How can I help?” asked Je’nna, remembering how awkward it was to get the boy onto her own back.
More gun bursts exploded all around, causing a smoky haze to darken the air.
“Shoot!” was Ki’ara’s reply.
Je’nna grinned, satisfied with the answer. She stood up and opened fire. Without the burden on her back, it felt like she weighed nothing at all. The girl darted for the best position, dodging gunfire while sending it back with targeted blasts.
Unlike the volleys that were coming at her, Je’nna’s shots were quick and accurate, hitting a target every time.
While Je’nna safeguarded them, Ki’ara rolled Petch onto his back. His eyes were closed, but moving under the lids – as if he were dreaming. There was only one way she could think of to get him loaded up, and the Princess didn’t hesitate. After quickly removing the artificial legs from over her back, she carefully leaned onto him, until her shoulder blades were resting on the boy’s chest.
Petch let out a breath as Ki’ara wiggled into position. She was trying not to squish him, or mess with his breathing, but could see no other way of doing this.
The boy snorted his way back to consciousness as Ki’ara lay back on him, flopping his arms around her neck. With the help of her Mu’turi, she pinned his hands to her opposite shoulders.
“Uh, Your Royal Highness…?” sputtered the boy, awakening to find her long striped hair in his face.
“Not now, Petch,” said Ki’ara, as she locked him into place and activated the G.R.
With the help of the anti-gravity device, she was easily able to get to her feet. In fact, even with the boy’s weight on her back, Ki’ara still felt lighter than normal.
“What’s going on?” yawned Petch. “Why are you carrying me?”
Blaster fire smashed into the shelves beside them, sending splinters and book confetti everywhere, nearly knocking the Princess off balance.
“Long story,” said Ki’ara, ducking for cover while snatching up the boy’s prosthetics. “We’re getting out of here.”
“My legs…” muttered Petch. He was groggy and out of it.
“I’ve got them, Petch,” Ki’ara told him.
“Why are you holding my legs?”
“Just hang on,” she said, making her way toward Je’nna.
“How can I hang on, I can’t move my hands…?”
“Okay. Just stop yawning in my ear.”
“Alright,” yawned Petch.
With her friend’s head bobbing over her shoulder, Ki’ara sprang up and bolted across the landing. Gunfire exploded around them, knocking the pair from side to side as Ki’ara did her best to keep her feet under her.
“Why are people shooting at us…?”
The combination of having the G.R. open, along with Petch on her back, made Ki’ara feel like she was moving at lightning speed and in slow motion all at once. Her strides were wide, but it felt like it was taking forever to land and take the next step. An instant later she slid to the ground next to Je’nna.
“Good to go,” said Ki’ara.
Je’nna nodded. “Stay close. We need to get to those stairs.”
“We’re right behind you,” said the Princess. “But Petch doesn’t have any armor.”
“Ooooh, look at her gun…” said the boy.
“Stay low and to the side,” said Je’nna, as she charged forward.
Ki’ara tried her best. But, between the bookshelves extending out so far, and her G.R. being tricky to get used to with the added weight of Petch on her back, Ki’ara found it difficult to prevent being exposed.
Luckily, none of the soldiers had been able to make it up to the levels above them. If they were up there, shooting down, the trio would be in big trouble.
“I wonder if they know that there are exits on every floor,” Ki’ara muttered as they reached the stairwell.
As if they had somehow heard her, Royal Guardsmen began appearing on the balconies above.
“There are?” asked Je’nna, her gun blasting like mad. “Why aren’t we using one?”
“Because they’ll take us back into the corridors.”
“So what?” said Je’nna, leading them up to the next level under a barrage of heavy gunfire. “That has to be better than this!”
Je’nna was right. Despite the fact that they’d just reached the stairwell, and that Ki’ara had a different route in mind, it felt like they would have to fight an army to reach it. At least in the corridors the fighting would be contained. But it was a long way around. And Ki’ara felt trapped in those narrow passages.
As more Guardsmen appeared around the balconies above, it became very clear that the corridors had to be the safer choice.
“Alright,” said Ki’ara, taking the lead, “Over here!”
Two guards were suddenly in front of them, blasters firing.
The girls dove in opposite directions.
With Petch on her back, Ki’ara threw her Niksuru before hitting the floor. Her weapon easily took out both guards, while she and Petch bounced back up; her G.R. keeping them on the verge of hovering. The Niksuru clapped back into her hand, and they were on the move again.
Petch began making noises in her ear, and for a moment Ki’ara thought he may be getting ready to congratulate her for the awesome move. When that didn’t happen, it occurred to her that he might be on the verge of throwing-up. As it turned out, she was wrong on both counts, for she realized Petch was in fact humming the rhythm of a song.
At least he seemed to be enjoying the ride.
Je’nna followed as Ki’ara darted down another narrow aisle. With rows of books lining the sides, and a wooden door at the end, this was just like the passage they’d entered the Library through.
Ki’ara slid to a stop and yanked it open as Je’nna fired more shots at their pursuers. But, rather than rushing through, Ki’ara stopped in her tracks.
Je’nna backed into Petch, knocking the pair forward while prompting a break in his tune.
“What is it?” asked Je’nna. She peered over their shoulders when there was no answer, trying to make sense of what she was witnessing. “What the Hell?”
8
The corridor looked very similar to the one on the first floor that they had entered from, with the exception of a silver sphere that floated silently in the air, a short distance outside the door.
Ki’ara had never seen anything like this before. The orb was completely motionless, yet it touched nothing – not the wall, or the floor. Not even the ceiling. It just hovered there, as silent as it was steady. Nearly three feet in diameter, the globe was perfectly round and entirely seamless; smooth and glossy like glass or liquid, but opaque like metal.
So odd and out of place was the object, the girls didn’t know what to make of it. Almost like someone had tossed a large metal ball into the center of the hallway, and then stopped time to hold it frozen in the air.
“That’s a BIG marble,” slurred Petch.
Je’nna crouched, looking underneath the strange object. Nothing was holding it. There was room to crawl under…
Reading her thoughts, Ki’ara shook her head. Though the sphere didn’t seem threatening, it was so far from being normal that caution seemed in order.
Nevertheless, she kind of wanted to push on it, just to see what would happen.
Je’nna shrugged, directing her rifle back into the Library. She was wordlessly pointing out the obvious: there was an army of Guardsmen waiting for them back there.
What choice did they have?
Ki’ara shook her head and cautiously approached the strange, floating globe. The silvery surface was smooth and unexplainable, almost mesmerizing. She saw her own ref
lection – distorted by the round shape – as she took each careful step. Even through the a armor, the girl could feel a fuzzy static charge that lifted her long hair.
“Puh … Pttth,” said Petch in her ear. Ki’ara translated that to mean her hair was in his face, and began to wonder what he was feeling without the protection of any armor.
This is a bad idea.
Ki’ara was about to back away when more shooting broke out behind her, coaxing her along. But this silver thing floating in the middle of the corridor was too weird.
A green glow appeared on the wall beside the orb.
Ki’ara had no idea what that meant, but it broadened and moved in her direction. The source suddenly came into view: a green light that silently moved within the surface of the mysterious sphere, swiveling around to the front until it appeared to lock onto Ki’ara like the pupil of a giant eye.
The green light flashed, making her jump and back away.
“Something’s happening,” she called over shoulder.
Jenna’s reply came between blaster fire. “Do you want me to shoot it?”
Ki’ara didn’t have a clue. The thought of firing a gun at something that they didn’t know or understand – that hadn’t done anything to harm them – seemed like a bad idea. But, what the heck is this thing?
Where there had been no seams a moment ago, panels suddenly flipped out from the sides; eight in total – four on each side of the sphere – all moving as one. They were curved, like the surface of the ball, hinging up from near the top.
Not having a clue what she was witnessing, Ki’ara backed away as the orb silently morphed.
The star-shaped pattern spread up from the globe, as another layer of panels curled out from under the first, bending at the tips and extending downward to the sides. Twice more the strange arcs did this, lengthening each time they unfolded, until the fine tips touched the floor.
They had the same silvery wet look as the sphere, like liquid metal. But, despite their mechanical appearance, they could only be described as legs.