Sentry Rising

by Birkenhead, Naomi

  “This organism will not interfere with the Seekers eye Mirdy, nor will it disrupt your ability to shift disguises,” he assured the women. “This is a very safe and effective way for the Sentry to stay in contact, and more importantly remain under the enemy radar. No one can intercept or hack these frequencies.”

  Zyphera pulled up her sleeve. “I guess we don’t have much of a choice.”

  Mrs. Osbourne readied a needle and swabbed Zyphera’s arm with antiseptic. “Just a small pinch,” she said, giving Zyphera a heads up before gently thrusting the needle into her skin.

  Zyphera cringed slightly as she watched Mrs. O push the dark liquid out of the syringe making it vanish somewhere inside Zyphera’s body.

  Mrs. O smiled, “Not so bad, right?”

  Mirdy gave the Professor a steady eye. “You know, I like you, but if this crazy little organism of yours turns me into some freaky monster thing, you’ll be the first I come for.”

  The Professor laughed. “I will sleep with one eye open!”

  “All done Professor,” Mrs. O informed, gathering up the tray and empty syringes.

  “Wonderful, thank you,” he replied as she left the room. “So how do you feel?” looking back at the two women.

  “Like I am about to go full swamp creature,” Mirdy muttered sarcastically.

  “Perfect!” He exclaimed clasping his hands together. “Now it will take a few days for your body to start bonding and the organism to finish calibrating the frequencies, oh, and we need to inject Leath as well, but once all that has occurred, we will hold another meeting to go over the ins and outs of using this amazing communication system. So for now you are free to go!”

  Zyphera and Mirdy stood up, exchanging weary looks as they filed out the door. Neither one had realized that it was already two in the afternoon and as if on cue, their stomachs started rumbling.

  “Thad should be up from his nap in a little bit. Want to grab a bite to eat then take the little guy to see the animals in the barn?”

  “That sounds like a lovely idea, Zyphera!” Mirdy agreed.

  The Professor listened as the women’s voices and footsteps faded. He slumped into his favorite chair. The collision of body and inanimate object forced a giant sigh to escape his lips. “This job has become very exhausting,” he mumbled, rubbing a finger on each temple as he closed his eyes.

  “I am sorry Barty, this is the way it has to be.”

  The Professor didn’t move “I am losing his trust you know. If I lose Mathias, the Sentry will crumble and the Watchman will fall.”

  Gabriel stepped out of the shadows that had been obscuring him.“Unfortunately, that is a risk we need to take.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “We are operating blind and in order to keep some sort of upper hand, this is the way things need to be,” Gabriel insisted.

  “This isn’t just another Watchman Gab, and those three people are hardly the frame work of a competent Sentry,” Bartholomew retorted. “I will be the one they blame. I am the one responsible. It is easy for you to stand there and convince me this is the way it has to be, when in the end your hands are clean,” His voice cracked with emotion and anger. “They are not puppets that either you, I, or the Coalition can control.”

  “Perhaps we can’t. But you are the head of this house and they will follow the orders that come from your mouth.”

  The Professor understood. Gabriel would ensure that everyone played their part no matter what the cost. Gabriel vanished back into the shadows leaving Bartholomew to the judgment of his own guilt.

  He gazed at the luxury surrounding him. Warm wood paneling hugged the walls. Velvet drapes dressed the magnificent picture window which framed a beautiful view of the estate’s luscious grounds. Bookshelves brimmed with ancient knowledge bound by handcrafted leathers. Carpets as plush as clouds and papers and ink crafted in worlds unknown to humans. .

  It tooks years to gather the wealth before him, things he once treasured. In one moment they no longer held any meaning. The cost became abruptly clear.

  So happy together

  Leath stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen. He was not surprised to see Mathias, Zyphera and Miss Mirdy sitting around the kitchen island with steaming mugs of fresh brewed coffee in hand.

  “Lose a little sleep last night did ya!” Miss Mirdy asked with a chuckle in her voice.

  “Not all of us are fortunate enough to have the deaf ears of a hundred year old woman,” He mumbled over a yawn.

  “It appears I am not the only one with that fortune,” She retorted, looking at Mathias and Zyphera.

  “I have never had so much sleep in my life,” Zyphera piped up.

  “Been sleeping like a bear in hibernation,” Mathias added with a toothy grin.

  “Are you serious?” Leath inquired, resting his mug on the counter before slumping onto a stool beside Mathias.

  “I have gotten about as much sleep in this last month as I would of in two maybe three days back home,” He murmured his head sinking towards his mug.

  Mathias quickly moved the mug before Leath’s head collided with it.

  “I am suffering from so much sleep deprivation, that last night I found myself trying to telepathically communicate with Thad. I kept begging him to go back to sleep. How bad is that?” Leath added as he slowly lost the battle to stay awake.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t figured it out yet,” Zyphera stated, a small amount of pity forming in her heart.

  “Figured what out?” Leath asked from the space between his elbows.

  She raised an eyebrow in Mathias’s direction as she explained. “Big guy rigged your radio to Thad’s baby monitor,” She said laughing.

  “Excuse me,” Leath said half raising his head. “I can’t believe you would do that to me,” his head slumping towards the counter once more. “I thought we were buddies,” He mumbled in a hurt tone.

  “We are buddies,” Mathias assured him with a friendly slap on the back “There is no better way to say “You’re my buddy” then with a little practical joke!”

  “After you’ve fixed my radio and I come out of hibernation, I am going to seriously put the hurt on you. I figure you got about two weeks to hide. After that, I am going ape on your butt,” Leath muttered in his most menacing tone.

  “You going to bang your chest and make monkey noises too,” Zyphera wondered hiding her smile behind her coffee cup.

  “If you find that sort of thing appealing I will,” Leath replied.

  “Entertaining yes, appealing no,” Zyphera said shaking her head.

  “Suit your self,” Leath said attempting a shoulder shrug.

  “Well I’ll try and remember to wear my loin cloth than!” Mathias laughed.

  “Terrific! I can’t wait,” Leath proclaimed through a yawn. “You know I would really love to stay and chat, but I have some very pressing matters that need my undivided attention,” he mumbled sleepily.

  In three seconds flat a snore drifted into the air. As the others got up to leave Leath suddenly mumbled “You know the poor little guy is teething. That’s why he is up so much. Mrs. O let me feed and rock the little howler back to sleep a couple times. I have to admit it is pretty amazing having a baby fall asleep in your arms. It almost makes you forget how tir…..” And then the snoring resumed.

  “I can’t believe he lasted this long,” Zyphera exclaimed in a hushed voice once they were outside the kitchen. “Not only that, he actually got up to help Mrs. O. I have to admit, I am somewhat impressed.”

  “Oh going soft on the lad are you now,” Miss Mirdy chided.

  “I never said that,” Zyphera replied defensively.

  “Ya didn’t have too. Any woman goes to mush over a man who loves babies,” Miss Mirdy smiled.

  “I didn’t go to mush. I was just saying…” Zyphera began.

  “What are you folks discussing so intently this early in the morning? And what are you posting on the door?” The Professor asked catching
a glimpse of Mathias out of the corner of his eye.

  “Just hanging a do not disturb sign,” Mathias replied with a grin.

  “You’re finally letting Leath get some sleep eh,” The Professor replied.

  “I honestly didn’t think it would take him so long to figure out,” Mathias defended his actions.

  “I know you guys don’t think he belongs here, but he was chosen to be apart of this Sentry and I expect you to treat him with the same respect you show each other,” The professor ordered in a stern voice as if he were scolding children. “Especially since some of you are older than me.” He said peering over his designer glasses.

  “You are never too old to have fun,” Miss Mirdy admitted with a giggle.

  “Well it is nice to see you have warmed up to these young hoodlums Mirdy,” The Professor replied with a wink.

  “Well I…never…” she stuttered her face going red.

  “Hoodlums!” Zyphera exclaimed in mock horror “I can’t believe you would call us that,” trying to curb her laughter.

  “Especially since I thought we were the ones you liked best,” Mathias added glancing at Mirdy with sad puppy dog eyes.

  “I don’t ever remember saying that I liked ya,” She growled, turning heel down the hall. “But I never said I disliked ya either.” She called over her shoulder.

  Mathias and Zyphera burst into fits of laughter as they climbed the stairs to the second floor.

  The Professor slipped quietly into the kitchen, greeted instantly by loud snoring. Bartholomew chuckled softly. He wandered over to the counter where the coffee pot sat warming the remaining coffee. As he poured the last drop into his mug a light dripping noise echoed in his ears.

  “Not again” he grumbled, bending down to check the pipes under the sink. He felt around and found every thing was dry. “Drip, drip” he heard the sound again. He glanced around. “What could possibly be making that noise?” He thought.

  He could barely hold in his laughter when he figured out the source.

  A sizeable pool of drool had formed under Leath’s cheek and was now dribbling off the edge of the counter onto the floor.

  “You poor little soul,” The Professor thought to himself as he grabbed a dish towel to sop up the puddle. He considered cleaning up the pool under Leath’s cheek but decided to leave the towel under the drip. He didn’t want to risk waking Leath from a much needed nap.

  “You most definitely deserve your sleep,” He added softly. He grabbed his mug and headed out to the garden leaving Leath to his dreams.

  The morning breeze was fringed with the crisp air of the night. The rising sun had yet to stretch its rays and blanket the earth with warmth. Through the branches of an apple tree he could see the fluffy red breast of a mother robin perched protectively on her nest. In a few more weeks the soft twittering of little birds would join their mother in a jolly song about spring.

  The Professor inhaled deeply, allowing the freshness of the morning to expand his lungs. His heart hadn’t beat as merrily as it did these last few weeks, since the day he had met the woman of his dreams.

  “I wish you could see him,” He whispered, his face lifted to the sky. “The way he smiles at you……it makes you forget everything around you!” he exclaimed.

  A flash of purple nestle in the corner of the garden caught his eye. “The first forget me knots, your favorite.” He said smiling. He carefully plucked a bud tucking it into the breast pocket of his suit.

  From the window of the conservatory, Zyphera and Mathias watched the old Professor wander the garden.

  “What do you suppose he sees in Leath?” Zyphera asked Mathias.

  "Hard to say, don’t get me wrong I like the guy. I just don’t think he is cut out for the job,” Mathias replied shrugging his shoulders.

  “There has to be a reason the professor hasn’t challenged Leath’s assignment here,” Zyphera replied her mind deep in thought.

  “You think Leath has some sort of ability we are not yet aware of?” Mathias asked. Although the Sentry had been together a month now, Zyphera had remained more or less, a closed book. He was very curious to hear her take on the situation.

  “For Thad’s sake I really do,” She replied studying the view before her. “A Sentry is only as strong as its weakest link and as cranky and ornery as Mirdy is….I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side!” She exclaimed with a laugh.

  “Yeah her good side is scary enough!” Mathias chuckled in agreement.

  “Honestly,” Zyphera's tone became serious, “not knowing Leath’s talent truly scares me. It feels like I am going into battle blind,” She said furrowing her brow. “I have been training my whole life for this, and Gabriel approaches Leath asks him to trust him and voila another Sentry member is born.”

  “I have to admit, I believe there is more going on then both the Professor and Gabriel are saying,” Mathias said with concern in his voice, “and it is not like the Professor to keep secrets.”

  “Really,” Zyphera turned to look at him, “What makes you say that? It’s not just the Leath thing is it? Does it have to do with the encounter with the Shadow Breather?”

  “Let’s just call it intuition,” Mathias answered, now wishing he hadn’t opened his mouth. He wandered over to the stereo equipment and began fidgeting with the buttons.

  “Does Leath really bug you that much?” Mathias asked trying to change the direction of the conversation.

  “Huh” Zyphera replied forgetting for a moment that he was there.

  “Leath, he seems to really get under your skin.”

  “Well……I told you,” she mumbled weakly keeping her eyes on the window.

  “There is more to it isn’t there?” Mathias insisted “You don’t like that he makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!” He said playfully poking fun.

  “WHAT…NO…Warm and fuzzy, he only wishes,” She snapped hoping to hide the blush creeping into her cheeks. “He and I are worlds and races apart. The thought of being coupled with him, god that would be like marrying one of those weird dog breeds the Raker’s made.

  “You mean a Canis Spectre!” Mathias Laughed “I think your exaggerating just a bit. But don’t worry your secret is safe with me,” Mathias said his eyes twinkling.

  Zyphera shot him her most menacing glare as she grabbed the staff leaning on the wall beside her. Mathias rubbed his hands together with excitement as a dark, drum and bass song blasted through the speakers, its energy reverberating around the room. Mathias planted his feet waiting for Zyphera to make her first move.

  Zyphera studied Mathias’s form. Her first strike will ultimately decide the entire outcome. A devious smile spread across her lips. With the staff held firmly in her right hand she crouched, keeping her eyes glued on his.

  Mathias watched as her left hand grazed the floor, her right foot sliding back bringing her leg almost parallel to the floor. His eyes closed for only a second to blink.

  Zyphera sprung into action. Triggering her muscles she shot up bringing the heel of the staff forward, driving it straight into Mathis’ side. Using the leverage of the staff in his side she sling shot around his back to land in the same position she started.

  Mathias winced. She had struck him on the bruised ribs caused by Leath a few weeks earlier. He knew he was no match for her agility and maneuverability. He would have to rely on his reflexes and strength to bring her down. A moment later he saw the slight twitch of her leg muscles and readied himself. It took barely a second for her thrust forwards this time with a different intention. Without changing his position Mathias’ left hand shot out grabbing the end of her staff.

  Zyphera quickly altered her pose utilizing the force and momentum Mathias used in his block and cart wheeling over his head. On her decent her left leg caught his inner thigh and using her own body weight took him down to his knee. Before he had a chance to recover her right foot shot out with a connecting blow to the back of his neck.

  Mathias caught Zyphera’s foot and pinn
ed it to the floor, his other hand driving forward, connecting with her chest sending her flying backwards. Even with the wind knocked out of her, she faltered for only a moment.

  Zyphera paused for one second, allowing the stars to clear from her line of vision. She dropped the staff. Bolting upright she surged forward closing the gap between them. She watched as Mathias shifted his weight, arms guarding his chest. At the last moment she hit the floor sliding between his legs. An instant later she bounded upwards letting loose a barrage of jabs, punches and kicks.

  Mathias pivoted on his back leg, his jaw catching a few blows before his reflexes kicked in. He expertly blocked the majority of her shots, absorbing their force through his arms. As Zyphera continued her upward movement, Mathias’ found an opening. The side of his right hand collided with her ribs.