The HUD plots out a laundry line dotted with waypoints to the destination, and places two sets of rapidly changing numbers for distance and altitude as ice crystals begin forming on the suit, making my movements less fluid. The Aether Suit responds by raising its exterior temperature via its Climate Systems, which adapt to the environment and keeps the suit operating in extreme weather conditions. Water droplets constantly streak across my visor and suit while we descend.
Once we’re beneath the clouds, I hear the muted sounds of heavy rainfall. The surface world is an endless tapestry of deep greens and blues stretching out in every direction. From up here, the world’s problems seem so small.
As we drop closer to the surface, the details of the world become clearer. Mountains, trees, and buildings rise and give depth to the world. We’re closing in on Starfall Point.
Our squad speeds along through the final valley before reaching the facility, a dense, winding forest set within towering craggy hillsides. We get close enough to some of the treetops that I can see them shake wildly as my team flies by. One final tight pass opens to the lab, a massive fortress tucked within Starfall Point’s cavernous hills. We’re still a good distance away, so I can’t help but feel exposed.
“Spread out,” Mukki says over the comm. “We’re in range.”
Our squad splits apart and flies toward the lab in a staggered formation.
“Fire on my command,” Skah says determinedly. “And no matter what, do not slow down.”
The lab’s defenses come to life and take aim at us. Dozens of ominous orange and red lights indicate their cannons are moments away from firing.
“Now!”
As we rocket toward the facility, Nova, Skah, and Mukki fire countless hydra missiles while I start unleashing my homing missiles. The hydra missiles continuously explode into smaller missiles as they head toward their targets. A barrage of missiles and rail guns fire from the facility. Both sides’ artillery hunts each other down, colliding in bright, deafening explosions in the sky.
“That’s it! Hit the door, Mukki!” Skah commands.
I drop close to the ground, unleashing the last of my homing missiles to keep the enemy off our backs. My visor highlights our point of entry and I move to rush down the remaining distance.
[DANGER: Multiple threats approaching.]
“I’m hit!” Skah growls angrily. “Get inside. Mukki! Now!”
The door explodes. I’m so close. I fly higher and perform a loop to send the missiles off course. As I dip back down to complete the maneuver, Nova disappears in an explosion. Mukki slips into the blasted door opening and trailing him is Skah, with a smoke trail behind him.
[DANGER: Catastrophic damage imminent.]
Bright light flashes in front of my eyes. After that, nothing.
***
I snap back to life to the Aether Suit’s alarms, and I’m embedded deep in the middle of a grassy hillside. Everything hurts. Where am I? My HUD is flashing.
[WARNING: Critical damage sustained.]
[DANGER: Armor integrity: 21%]
[WARNING: Stabilizers offline.]
[WARNING: Jets offline.]
[WARNING: Weapon Systems critical.]
The suit is barely holding it together. I pull my arms free and roll onto my stomach. My radar highlights enemy movement. They’re close.
“Can anyone hear me? I am down. I repeat: I am down. The Aether Suit is severely damaged. I’m grounded and the enemy is close. Nova, Mukki, Skah, come in.”
I can hear my voice saying the words, but everything feels so chaotic and detached.
Mukki’s scrambled voice comes through. “…ana! Listen. You have…run. I’m looking…nearest entrance from your location, but right…need to get away and hide. Find cover. Get going! Now!”
I shift my hands forward and push against the wet ground. The suit calculates the best direction to go based on weapons placement and enemy positions. The ground explodes nearby. I follow the projected path to the lab and run into some tight tree cover as more explosions blast craters into the ground.
I rush through the forest, running up and jumping down hills looking for a safer location. After several long minutes, I pause for a moment to catch my breath. I glance around the tree I’m using as cover, then meet a gun barrel as I turn back.
“Found you.”
A soldier. He has an anti-tank rifle pointed at my chest. He fires. The round pierces my suit, sends me spiraling uncontrollably downhill, and straight toward a cliff. I dig my hands into the grass and dirt, but it’s not enough. I slip and plummet straight down.
The suit has had enough. My HUD displays the word [DANGER] over and over. I try to trigger the jets, the stabilizers in my boots, anything, but nothing is working.
There are a few small bodies of water below. I’m too far from the cliff to kick off, but maybe….
I switch both arms to cannons and start firing at the cliff. The cliff explodes and gets a little more distant with each shot, and I brace for impact.
I hit the surface of the water and sink deep into it. As my fall slows, I breathe a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, the Aether Suit is still going crazy.
[WARNING: Critical damage sustained.]
[SYSTEM UPDATE: System shutdown imminent.]
[WARNING: Low energy. Matter required.]
I fire into the water and the shots convert it into energy. The suit greedily pulls the energy into itself and starts to heal.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Life Support System repaired.]
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Armor repaired.]
[WARNING: Climate Systems malfunction. Components required.]
[WARNING: Jets malfunction. Components required.]
[WARNING: Stabilizers malfunction. Components required.]
[WARNING: Reinforced Armor malfunction. Components required.]
[WARNING: Advanced Weapon Systems malfunction. Components required.]
Malfunction? Components? That’s never happened before.
I disable the cannons and reach forward, then start kicking my legs and pull myself back to the surface. As I climb out of the water, I look around. Radar’s quiet. I grab the anti-tank round and pull it out of my chest. Then I look up at the cliff as the suit heals the wound. Dust trails off the holes my shots left in the cliffside.
“Skah, Nova, Mukki. Can any of you hear me?”
No response. For the first time, I notice my suit has changed to a deep aqua blue color. I’m completely grounded and alone, but alive. Climbing the cliff is out of the question, so I start examining the area.
Sand and seashells crunch beneath my boots as the waves crash against the pointed rocks nearby. I don’t recall ever being so close to the ocean in my life.
I walk under various alcoves, searching for a way in. Either my radar is completely broken, or the humans never counted on anyone approaching from this angle, because there’s no one around.
Wait. What was that?
Something just blipped on the radar. I move closer to the new target. More red dots appear. I switch to my cannons.
I follow the radar to a shallow pool of water and a broken wall. Is this a way in? I wade through the water and make my way inside.
I found my targets. Four giant insects with prominent mandibles crawl along the ground just inside. They don’t seem hostile, but when it comes to hybrids, there’s no room for exceptions. I exterminate them, then turn my attention to the area. Judging from the size of the hole in the wall, something really wanted out of here.
“Nova, Skah, Mukki. If any of you can hear me, I’m marking my position. There’s a possible entrance to the facility here, deep beneath the cliff. I’m going in.”
This looks like a natural cave formation. I wonder if this is part of the lab. None of the other facilities I’ve taken down incorporated natural structures, so this would be a first.
It’s cool inside, and water droplets fall from the high ceiling above. I pick a direction and begin wandering the winding path.
&nbs
p; When I reach the top of the cave, a reinforced circular metal door makes it clear that I’m inside the lab. I shoot the door, and its eight curved triangular segments slide open.
As the more familiar landscape of bright white tile and walls is revealed, I can hear a computerized voice and sirens blaring.
“Intruder Alert. Intruder Alert,” the automated voice speaks over the lab’s comm system.
I’m expecting resistance, but the halls are empty. A notification appears on my HUD. Skah’s voice plays over the sirens.
“Nova, Ilana, respond if you can hear me. Mukki and I are trapped in a Nav Room under heavy fire.”
I open my comm. “Skah, Mukki. If you can hear me, I need to know where you’re at. Is Nova with you?”
“No. She’s been silent for as long as you have. What happened out there?” Skah asks.
I pause for a moment and glance at my radar. All clear.
“I’m still not sure. Have you found the map data? I want to back you up, but I need to know where to go.”
“Mukki’s still working on it. We’re on Level 1. Where are you?”
The wall across from me has large black lettering.
“Underground 3 - Environment Chamber 4.”
“I’ll mark our location for you. There should be some way for you to get up here,” Skah says.
“I’ll look around.”
These places are always labeled. I just need to find the lifts or a stairwell.
I step out into the hallway and the door closes behind me. My suit sets a waypoint and the distance from my position to the Nav Room onto the HUD.
I rush down the hall, passing by several more doors as I look for directories or any signs to point me in the right direction. A short distance away, the door in front of me opens and a squad of soldiers armed with heavy machine guns come through. They take aim at me.
“State your business,” one of them says.
“Looking for some friends of mine.”
“Are you with the dragons?”
“I am,” I reply.
“We have them trapped in the Navigation Room. You’re outnumbered and outgunned. Surrender now, and you might just live to see tomorrow.”
“I’ve heard that line a few times.”
“Very well. Take her down.”
The soldiers open fire as I run forward, and I take several shots before leaping to the side and kicking off the wall. I take aim in the air and fire both cannons, obliterating all nine men before hitting the ground. The shots convert them into floating yellow energy that the suit absorbs as I draw near. I shoot the door open and step past their remains as I enter the next room.
I’m standing in a large organic structure the humans have modified into an observation deck. There’s a sphere of thick glass separating the room from its cavernous surroundings, and wide walkways leading to multiple levels. The next door is across the room and up a long flight of stairs. I’m looking for targets as I cross the room, but it’s empty.
There are many strange plants on the other side of the glass, including man-sized piranha with frighteningly large, predatory teeth, several classes of spiked creatures crawling all over the walls and glass, and more of the large beetles I encountered earlier. I’d deal with them now, but I’ve got to get to the others.
I hurry up the stairs and blast the door open. There are two ceiling mounted turrets in the bright white room, and they quickly lock onto me and open fire. I dodge to the side as a hail of bullets strike the suit and then the next room’s walls. I step back just enough to see the corner of the leftmost turret and fire shots at it until it explodes. I crouch and carefully step to the side, then target the rampaging right turret and fire at it until it’s destroyed.
The Aether Suit collects the energy and heals itself as I proceed forward. I can see a large platform halfway through the room.
“Mukki, Skah. I found a lift. How are you doing?” I ask as I step onto the large metal platform, approach the controls, and input my destination: Level 1.
A pair of heavy metal doors seal the entrance, and the lift begins its ascent.
“We’re still trapped, but I’m currently downloading the lab’s layout. I’ll get it to you shortly,” Mukki says over the comm.
“This place is enormous. I’m coming up from the underground facility. The lift I’m on should take me into the main building. I’ll get to you as soon as possible.”
A short time later, a scrambling of static comes through the comm.
“...you hear me?”
“Nova?”
The static clears up a bit. “Ilana? What a relief,” Nova says.
“I was so worried. I lost you in the air,” I say.
“Me too. I flew back around to find you.”
“I’m not even clear on what happened,” I admit.
“They shot you down with a railgun. It was terrifying to watch. If it were anyone else, it would have been fatal.”
I don’t know how to respond. Skah chimes in.
“Where are you now, Nova?”
“I just made a new entrance on the roof.”
“Well done. Make your way to Level 1 as quickly as possible. They’ve sealed the door to the Nav Room. Anything you two can do about it?”
“On my way now.” As Nova speaks, I can tell she’s smiling.
“Ilana, expect heavy resistance,” Skah warns.
As the lift passes by Underground 1, I hear a muffled boom from above. Nova, no doubt.
I step into the corner of the lift, jump up, and punch open the maintenance door. I’ll take any advantage I can manage at this point. I leap up and pull myself into the shaft.
The lift stops and the doors open. A pair of boots stomp onto the platform. A soldier looks up at me, and I open fire.
A massive boom rocks the lift. The shouting soldiers indicate Nova has arrived. I drop into the lift and shoot three more soldiers, including a Minigun turret operator. The turret slows to a stop.
I step out into the chaos of the lobby just in time to see Nova breathe fire and scorch several soldiers while flying around the massive room. Live wires spit sparks from the hole blasted in the ceiling. All eyes are on Nova.
The lobby is a sprawling room with fancy leather couches, unnaturally large plants, metal sculptures, ornate chandeliers, concrete fountains, and shining tile. The juxtaposition of the military presence inside of the lobby is a bizarre sight. Groups of soldiers have fortified the entire floor, but I find it hard to believe they’ve done so on our behalf.
A nearby soldier with an RPG takes aim at Nova. I quickly aim and shoot, and the weapon explodes. Several soldiers train their weapons at me and open fire. I retreat as several shots punch holes into the lift, while others ricochet off the nearby walls.
“Nova, almost all of my equipment was destroyed on our way in. I only have my cannons, and I’m pinned at the lift,” I say.
“Leave it to me.”
I peek around the corner and fire a few shots. A volley of homing missiles strikes the group targeting me, and their entire nest is roasted.
“Thanks,” I say.
“Get this door open so we can help,” Skah says over the comm.
“Working on it,” Nova replies. She turns her attention to the heavy seal on the door at the far end of the room. I move from the lift and rush to provide covering fire.
“There’s no way these soldiers assembled here because of us,” Nova says, scattering explosives on the groups nearest the door.
“You noticed that too, huh?”
“Yeah. There’s something strange going on here.”
A series of explosions obliterates the nests near the door. Nova plants an even bigger bomb on the door.
When I’m halfway to Nova, a squad of soldiers opens fire at me. The suit quickly accumulates heavy damage while I make my way to cover. Bullets smash against my chest and helmet. I crouch behind the nearest fountain, peering out just enough to take them out one at a time with my left cannon, flinching as mo
re bullets whiz past my head. When the last soldier drops, I edge around the backside of the fountain and hurry toward the floating energy while the suit complains, desperate to heal.
“Get down!” Nova commands.
I dig in against another fountain while the suit repairs itself. I can feel the shockwave as the entire door to the Nav Room is blasted apart, leaving a gaping hole for a doorway. Skah emerges through the smoke and crumbling debris, and immediately rushes down a heavily armed squad of soldiers.
I get to my feet as Nova and Skah launch into action. Nova flies straight into a nest and crushes several of the soldiers.
“Why are there so many here?” she asks.
“Doesn’t matter. Clear them out!” Skah roars. He breathes fire and toasts half a dozen soldiers.
We’re sweeping through the enemy quickly, when I glance around and jump on the nearby Minigun turret. The barrels spin rapidly as I take aim and fire, shredding several more soldier nests with ease.
Nova and Skah descend upon the last two groups and scorch them.
“Mukki, it’s clear,” Skah says over the comm.
“Just a moment. And...done. Okay, everyone, I’m sending the map to you,” Mukki says.
I receive the map data, open it, and start poring over the lab’s layout. How deep does this anthill go?
“Is something wrong with the data, Mukki? The map is incomplete,” I say.
“Unfortunately, it looks like each area has its own Nav Room we'll need to access individually, so we'll add to the map as we come across them,” Mukki replies. He enters the room, studying a projection on his wrist computer.
“This should be a fairly simple…” he starts to say, and notices the carnage. “Well, I see you three got carried away.”
“The only way they could have set this up is if they knew we were coming,” Nova says. “There’s no other explanation.”
A Plague of Dragons (A Dragon Anthology) Page 40