Warrior Rogue (The Drift Lords Series)

by Nancy J. Cohen

  He scowled in puzzlement. Other than the recreated village, there didn’t appear to be anything comparable to the site plan. So if not a theme park consistent with other Trollek recruitment centers, what was the purpose of this facility?

  The jamming device his team had destroyed at Drift World had been powered by a confluence of ocean currents and solar energy. Could they be attempting to construct something similar here? But that wouldn’t make sense. His team had already pinpointed the rifts. So why wasn’t General Morar busy bolstering defenses at Shirajo Manor instead of appearing here? What was so important about this site?

  Paz contemplated notifying Zohar, but he needed evidence of this place’s true function. He had to get inside that rectangular building, and only one way presented itself.

  He shed his backpack and assault vest, reluctant to leave his gear behind, but he had no choice. His gaze zeroed in on a dead tree stump. He’d leave his equipment beside it as a marker.

  His burden lightened, he zigzagged across the sandy ground, veered around the tower, and approached the workers by the bunker’s loading bay. When an opening occurred, he slipped into their line and copied their actions.

  Each man grabbed a carton from an open truck and then headed inside the structure. The work crew wore street clothes so he blended in with his black jeans and matching T-shirt.

  Focusing his gaze straight ahead and slouching his shoulders, he shuffled by a couple of armed Trollek sentries. His group entered a cavernous space with crisscrossing pipes, metal grating, conduits, and steel. Two other levels rose above the ground floor via interior stairs. Some of the space around the inside perimeter was delegated to offices.

  Clanking and grinding noises nearly drowned out the orders barked by the Trollek overseers. Paz dumped his box in a separate storeroom with the others as directed. When his fellow humans turned to leave, he dodged behind a tall stack of cartons. He wouldn’t have much time to see what was going on before the next group arrived. He planned to exit the same way he’d come in.

  A guard had the bad luck to stride into the room at that moment. Paz made quick work of flooring him. He wriggled his fingers, tingling from the impact of flesh to flesh. Thank the stars he’d remembered to polarize himself that morning so he didn’t have to worry about being confounded.

  Having a sentry lying at his feet changed his plans. Paz grabbed the beefy fellow by the ankles, dragged him into a corner, and then stripped off his outer clothes. Now he needed a place to hide the guy. His gaze alighted on a nearby box with the proper dimensions. He pulled out the dagger strapped inside his boot and cut it open. After shoving the Trollek inside, he donned the beast’s uniform and hat, pulling the brim low.

  Outside in the hall, he climbed a set of metal stairs. At the top landing, he peered over the rail at the vast interior illuminated by warehouse-type lighting. He noticed a huge white bifurcated pipe. His gaze followed where it joined into one piece and thrust toward the opposite side of the room. There it disappeared into the wall.

  With a purposeful stride, he advanced along the third level catwalk until he came to an office. It had a glass wall so the occupant could inspect the big hall. The other side held a view of the solar panel field. When no one appeared to be near, he slipped inside. A black leather seating arrangement filled one corner in the office. Files, cabinets, and a wide desk completed the furnishings.

  Paz aimed for a row of lit displays on a wall. His heart quickened as he studied them. One was a plant schematic. His pulse throbbing in his neck, he traced the blue, white, and red demarcations. As he had guessed, tunnels ran between the structures but he still couldn’t fathom the facility’s purpose.

  Wait, some of those designs looked familiar. A frown creased his brow and dread pitted his gut. Oh, no. Suddenly, he knew what the enemy planned to do.

  Further inspection revealed the big pipe led to a room with a circulating mechanism, the source of the clanging noise. At the far end, this room narrowed to a tunnel where steam hissed from overhead conduits and metal barrels rode on a conveyor belt toward an unknown destination.

  Paz’s blood ran cold as he put the pieces together.

  The pistons and steam-driven devices, the solar panels, the sun, and the nearby Gulf waters. The amphitheater shaped like a giant arch and the parade field in front of it. The presence of General Morar and his elite troops. He bet if he’d opened one of those cartons in the storeroom, it would contain calculator components and broken mirror parts.

  Hounds of Hel, the Trolleks were constructing a supergate, a portal much bigger than previous ones and at a more strategic location. Once activated, this gate would permit the Trollek army to invade the country on a massive scale.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Paz considered how to prevent the Trolleks from activating their supergate. His best bet would be to divert the plant’s stored energy so when they turned on their rift generator, an explosion would result. He’d brought along some dythium charges. Those should do the job.

  The rectangular building served as a storage tank for the voltage produced by the solar panels. He wasn’t sure what purpose that outside tower served, but it was tied into the network. He’d take a look over there later.

  Inside the room with the metal barrels, he strode down a catwalk along one wall. The barrels sat on a conveyor belt that led to a closed circular door at the far end. All was quiet for now. He selected a barrel in a central location, pasted on his charges, and wired them together.

  He set them to blow either when the beasts turned on the system or if he pressed a remote detonator. According to the schematics he’d studied in the main office, blowing this critical juncture would start a ripple effect, igniting the rest of the stored energy. Cracks caused in the understructure should tear the complex apart. Or so he hoped.

  Pipes ran overhead, hissing steam that heated his skin. Sweat dripped down his face. He needed to get out of there before their security monitors registered his presence.

  Uh, oh. Too late. A line of red lights on the wall began to blink in a steady sequence.

  After verifying his work one final time, Paz leapt onto the catwalk and charged toward the exit. He dodged metal gratings and skirted cables along the way. But as he neared the door, a squad of armed Trolleks surged inside.

  He spun and ran in the opposite direction amid their shouts and laser fire.

  A metal ladder beckoned. He scrambled up the rungs to the upper level, meaning to find another way out, but he ran smack into General Morar himself. Straightening, Paz pressed his lips together.

  The Trollek commander glowered at him, his bristled jaw clenched, and his cauliflower ears flapped forward.

  “You!” He slugged Paz across the mouth. “What are you doing here?”

  “What do you think?” Paz sneered as a couple of muscular troopers grabbed his arms. “I’m here to stop you.”

  Morar whipped out a shock stick. “You’re wasting your time, human.”

  He jabbed Paz repeatedly until his knees sagged and agony pierced his ribcage. His lungs burned for a clear breath. If not for the beefy soldiers holding him up, he’d have been on the floor by now.

  “Tell me, what have you done? Where is the rest of your team?” Morar’s face mottled with rage.

  “I came alone.” A jolt to his kidneys made him swear aloud.

  “Liar. What have you learned about this place?”

  “Enough to know it has to be destroyed, donik.”

  Morar punched him in the face. He tasted blood on his tongue.

  “You’ll tell me what you know. Maybe another episode with the boratus worms will loosen your tongue.”

  His gut clenched. “It didn’t work on me before. It won’t work now.”

  Morar bared his teeth. “We’ll see. We have other means we can use.” He gestured to his soldiers. “Lock him up for now. I’ll question him after the test run.”

  The troopers tightened their grip on his arms.

  “Wait.” Morar h
eld up a hand. “I have a better idea. We’ll let the Drift Lord experience our operational status firsthand. That might be more amusing. Tie him to a barrel.”

  Panic flared in Paz’s chest as they dragged him toward the conveyor belt. If they discovered his set charges, his death would be pointless.

  Luckily the soldiers didn’t take him far. One of them kicked him behind his knees at the second barrel. His legs folded, and he sank onto the rubbery surface of the conveyor belt.

  The guard yanked his arms upward and handcuffed him to a protrusion on the barrel. At least he was on the opposite side of the room from that enormous round door.

  They kicked him a few more times before leaving him alone. General Morar chuckled on his way out.

  “Goodbye, Drift Lord. May we never meet again.”

  His body ached from their blows, but he steeled himself against the pain. The outer door clanged shut. He heard the hissing steam, the distant grind of machinery, and his own labored breathing in the sudden emptiness.

  A vibration shook the room.

  Oh, no. They were starting their test, whatever that meant.

  His throat clogged when the round doors at the far end slid open and the machinery noise ratcheted up in decibels. Peering past the row of barrels obstructing his view, he gulped. The room beyond held a wide maw that swallowed each barrel.

  A thump sounded. With a jerk, the conveyor belt started moving. He yanked on his wrists but the handcuffs held him secure. Steam blew into his face and sweat oozed from his pores. Wedged between barrels, he could barely twist his body.

  Up ahead, the first barrel entered the next room, swirled around a turntable, and then shot into the gaping machinery. Paz rattled his handcuffs, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. The cuffs bit into his skin but they wouldn’t budge.

  The next barrel met its fate as the conveyor lurched forward. As soon as the barrel with the dythium charge got there, it would all be over.

  Do something!

  His breath coming in short, hard bursts, he bent one knee and raised his foot. He’d use his teeth to grab the lock picks inside his boot. He hunched forward, straining his arm sockets.

  Before he could achieve his objective, something whacked him on the head, and all went black.

  ****

  Paz woke up outside on the ground. His head throbbing, he forced himself to a sitting position. Whoever had knocked him out had also unlocked his handcuffs and dragged him here. He’d like to thank his ally but didn’t have a clue who it might be.

  The tower loomed at his side, and he remembered his intent to determine its purpose. Morar must have halted the test when he realized Paz had escaped. Whoever had helped him would have had to disable the security monitors. They’d be searching the grounds for him. He had to hurry.

  He staggered to his feet and rounded the concrete base. It appeared solid with no door or other apparent entrance. The only way to reach the summit was to climb the ridges.

  He was halfway up the tower when the solar collectors in the field below changed position to follow the sun. At the same time, flaps unfolded and extended from the sides of the tower, leaving him clinging to a ledge.

  He scrambled upward, hauling himself from one shelf to another, gripping metal bars along the way. Finally, he heaved himself over the roof’s edge. Only then did he realize the tower’s function.

  Standing upright, he surveyed the property from his high vantage point. The tower panels were mirrored. They intensified the radiant energy collected by the solar units. This energy then transferred to the storage facility. Considering the body of water off the west coast, he figured the Trolleks might have a hydroelectric plant in the vicinity that fed into this place as well.

  When they opened the dimensional rift from the Trollek world, the combined forces on both sides of the gate would ensure its integrity. An entire army could march through that archway below.

  He had to stop them before that happened.

  From his pocket, he pulled out his remote detonator. But before he could press the button, someone kicked the small device from his hand. He raised his head to view General Morar’s snarling face.

  ****

  Jen gazed out the window of the shuttle transporting her to the Tampa location where Lord Magnor had pinpointed the new recruitment center. Zohar piloted the ship with Nira beside him. Yaron, Jen, and Magnor sat in the back. Dal and Lianne had stayed behind to work on his weapon.

  Jen would never forgive herself if Paz had gotten himself killed. Clamping her lips tight, she gripped the seat cushion as they veered into a steep descent. A cloaking device ensured their arrival would go unnoticed.

  She got a quick view of the terrain as they approached. A squat multi-story building sat at one end of the property, while solar panel collectors, a simulated Viking village, an amphitheater, and a big tower made up the rest.

  “I’ll put us down by the village.” Zohar maneuvered the craft, his face grim. “Most of the activity is at the other end. We need to acquire Paz’s exact location for an extraction.”

  “This doesn’t look like a theme park.” Nira peered out the transparent viewscreen in front.

  Zohar pulled back on the throttle. “No, it doesn’t, but we’re not here to investigate. Our prime objective is to retrieve Paz and get out of here.”

  He put them down then killed the engine. Like Yaron, he wore his uniform tunic and trousers. The fabric served as lightweight body armor. Lord Magnor wore his sword and cloak like a modern day Robin Hood.

  They entered the village and split up. Jen and Nira stuck together. Jen took only two steps down the main street and froze. The scene was eerily realistic. She could almost smell the aroma of fish cooking and the scent of peat smoke trailing from the thatched roofs.

  Her mind segued into a vision that made her heart flutter: Armed Trollek soldiers amassing on the border. An invasion force poised to attack while their menfolk were away. Her humble abode, where she scrambled to save her jewels in a last, desperate attempt to save herself and her sister.

  Comprehension made goose bumps rise on her skin. That hadn’t been a vision from the past.

  It had been a harbinger of the future.

  This place, right here, was the spearhead for a massive invasion.

  “Nira! Jen! Over here,” Zohar hollered. “I found Paz’s gear.”

  Jen’s spirits soared. He must be nearby. That meant they’d guessed correctly as to his intent.

  As she raced toward the prince, the solar collectors arrayed on the sandy field swiveled toward the sun. The tall tower unfolded like layers of a flower, its petals opening. Except those petals were actually mirrored panels.

  “Look!” Nira pointed to the tower’s flat top as they got close enough for a better view.

  Two figures stood by the edge battling each other. Jen’s blood iced as she recognized them.

  “It’s Paz and General Morar. We have to hurry and reach them before they kill each other.”

  ****

  General Morar’s tall, powerful figure blocked Paz’s view of the sky. He must have gained access to the tower roof through a trapdoor. Perhaps the opening to the structure was underground, with an interior staircase or lift to the top.

  With a snarl, the Trollek commander swung a fist at him. Paz dodged the blow and lunged for his detonator. The general intercepted him with a kick to his kidneys. Paz dove to the side and rolled on the roof, then leapt to his feet again.

  Morar aimed a beefy paw at his nose next, but Paz ducked and came up swinging. His blow missed. He launched at the beast with a flying kick. Morar dodged him with accelerated speed. Every time Paz kicked or jabbed out at him, the riff shifted places in a blur. He snickered, enjoying the game, while Paz’s breaths came more rapidly.

  “You have caused enough trouble, Drift Lord.” Morar’s eyes blazed with hatred. “Let us end this.” He yanked a disruptor from under his uniform jacket and shot Paz straight in the chest.

  Paz glanced down in s
tunned disbelief.

  No, that hadn’t just happened.

  That instant was all it took for Morar to shove him over the edge.

  As he toppled backward, he flung out his arms. His fingers caught on the rim. He hung there, his feet dangling over empty space. His vision dimmed, and yet he didn’t feel any pain.

  Morar sauntered over, no doubt to stomp on Paz’s hands with his heavy boots. Paz saw the whites of his eyes, the spittle on the side of his ugly mouth.

  He’d failed. All he had to do was push that button, and he had dropped the detonator. Now the Trolleks would succeed in their invasion. He couldn’t guarantee the charges he’d set on the barrel would explode on impact. Morar might find them first and deactivate the bomb.

  Or not. As long as breath remained in his body, he had a fighting chance. He would destroy this facility if it was the last thing he did. His body trembled, and his grip loosened. He just had to hold on long enough to finish the job.

  A hooded figure emerged from the trapdoor on the roof just as Morar raised his foot. In the next instant, a blade whizzed through the air and landed with a sickening thunk in General Morar’s spine.

  The general’s eyes widened. Then he began a slow fall off the roof. With a bloodcurdling scream, he bounced from one flap to the next and finally landed on the ground amidst the sound of shattering glass.

  Paz’s unknown ally reached down to grasp his arms and haul him onto the roof where he collapsed on the deck. Too short of breath to move, he watched the hooded figure turn away and scoop up the detonator. Surprise crossed his features when the ally brought it over and placed it in his palm.

  “Why?” he croaked as blackness encroached on him.

  Algie flung back her hood. “It’s fortuitous that you escaped from the operations facility and killed my husband, Drift Lord. Now there will be a vacuum in command—a vacuum I intend to fill.”

  “Not if I can help it.” One final job remained before he passed out.