"Damn!" he said. "Well, there's nothing we can do about it right now. First order of business is getting out of here." Talon moved toward the door at the side of the car. "This looks like the only way out."
"As far as I could tell." Aracos told him. "But it looks like it has some electronics hooked up to it."
"An alarm." Talon examined the edge of the door. Aracos was right, there were hints of some sophisticated electronic circuitry there. "Boom, take a look at this." he said.
The troll bent down to examine the door. Despite his brutish appearance, Boom had become quite adept with electronics over the years. Still, he shook his head after a few moments.
"Sophisticated stuff." he said. "No way I can defeat it without at least some tools."
"Can we open the door?" Talon asked.
Boom flexed his massive arms a couple times. "Null sweat there, but we'll definitely set off an alarm if we do."
"No choice." Talon said. "Let's do it." He opened up a commlink and told Val and Trouble to get ready.
"Hurry it up, Talon." came Val's voice. "You're headed for a tunnel and we'll have to go around it. If you go through, it could be a little while before we catch up to you again."
"If we wait, somebody might come to check on us." Talon said. He looked over at Boom. "Okay, do it, chummer."
Boom grabbed the handle of the door in his huge hands, firmly planted his feet, and yanked. The door groaned in protest for a moment, followed by the sound of a snap as it slid open, letting a howling blast of frigid air into the train car.
From the open door, the runners could see it was still night, and they were speeding along through rocky, hilly terrain. Without hesitation, Boom leaned out the door and reached for the ladder mounted on the side of the car. He swung out into the darkness and began climbing.
"Go." Talon told the others. "I'll go last." Hammer nodded and followed Boom, leaving Talon, Silverblade, and Aracos alone in the train car with the unconscious guards and the dark shape of the bomb.
"You next." Talon told the elf.
"Afraid to turn your back to me?" Silverblade said.
"No, I just want to make sure you get off this thing. We still may need your help."
The elf gave a short bow from the waist before leaning out and grabbing the ladder. Then Talon followed him out as Aracos shifted back into his astral form.
"Team One, we have you on visual." Val said to Talon over his headcom. "We're coming in." As Talon clambered up the ladder toward the roof of the car, wind whipping his long coat around him, he could see the running lights of the helicopter as it began to descend toward the train. As he reached the roof where the others crouched, the chopper began to lower a rope ladder from the open cargo door in the side. Val carefully piloted it to bring the swinging ladder close to the roof of the train.
"Almost, almost." Boom said as the rope ladder drew closer. The big troll shot out one hand in a lightning grab and managed to snatch the end of the ladder out of the air.
"Got it!" he said. "You sure this thing'll hold me?" he yelled to Talon.
Talon paused to listen for a second. "Val says yes!" he shouted back. "Now get going!"
Hammer held the end of the ladder as Hammer clapped him once on the shoulder and started climbing. "You next, elf-boy." he said to Silverblade when Hammer reached the chopper. The elf didn't bother to argue, but simply grabbed the ladder and started climbing with great agility.
"You're next, Talon." the troll said.
"But . . ."
"No buts! Someone needs to hold this thing stable and there's no way you can do it for me. I'll follow you up. Now get going!"
"Better hurry things up, Talon." Val said. "We're coming up on that tunnel mighty fast." Talon could see the high hills looming ahead of the train.
"All right." he said, grabbing hold of the ladder, then started climbing up toward the chopper.
The ladder bucked and swayed in the wind as Val fought to keep the helicopter steady and stable near the train. Talon had to climb slowly to keep his grip, and once he almost slipped and fell. Looking down at the ground, rushing past at well over sixty klicks per hour, he wasn't eager to see if his magic could break his fall in time.
"Talon!" Val's voice came over his commlink. "We've got company! Two bogies coming in fast!" Talon looked behind the train, but he couldn't see anything: no running lights or signs of aircraft.
Then he spotted them. They had no lights, only broad black wings spreading out from slim, muscular bodies. Whiplike tails tipped with poisonous stingers coiled in the air, and their long, thin necks supported small, reptilian heads, jaws filled with needle-like teeth. The two wyverns were coming right at them, their hunting cries carrying over the sound of the train.
19
"Boom! Get up here!" Talon yelled down as the wyverns closed in. Each of the flying creatures was nearly as long as the helicopter that hovered less than ten meters above the train cutting its way through Germany toward Berlin. They opened their fanged maws to give loud hunting cries as they closed in.
"Talon, we've got no heavy weapons on this bird." Val said over his headlink. "We'll try to hold them off. Get the hell up here!"
From the open side-door of the helicopter, Harlan Hammarand leaned out, clutching an Ingram submachine gun. The gun roared as he fired several bursts in the direction of the wyverns. There was no indication he'd hit them. The creatures barely slowed their approach as they started to bank around to either side of the chopper. Their tails were tipped with wicked-looking stingers.
A wyvern came rushing in at Talon, its tail poised to strike. Talon kicked off the rope ladder and hung on for dear life as he swung to the side. The stabbing tail barb barely missed him, and the wyvern started to come around again. Its companion swooped down at Boom, who was standing on the roof of the speeding train. The troll dropped to the roof in a roll to avoid the creature's sting, but nearly flung himself off the roof in the process. He grabbed the edge of the roof with one of his massive hands just as his body went over the side.
Without Boom to anchor the rope ladder, the end flapped loosely in the wind as the chopper rose slightly upward. Hammer's gun roared again as he fired at the wyverns, but the creatures were remarkably fast and maneuverable for all their size, their heavy scales like armor. Again, there were no signs of significant injury from either beast.
"We need to get back down to Boom!" Talon said to Val. "Can you lower us?"
"We don't have a lot of time, Talon. That tunnel is coming up fast. We haven't got more than a minute or two."
"We can't leave Boom behind. We've got to get down there. Lower this thing!"
"I'm bringing us in." Val said. "Try and keep those things off our tail."
"Aracos," Talon thought, "try and distract one of the wyverns, keep it away from the chopper."
"Will do." the spirit answered.
One of the wyverns was coming around for another shot at Talon. Suddenly it banked and turned away, as if something unseen had buzzed in front of it. Wyverns were sensitive to the astral plane, like most Awakened creatures, so it could perceive Aracos even when the spirit was in astral form. Talon knew that Aracos was far swifter and more maneuverable in his astral form than the wyverns, so he should be able to keep the creature busy for a little while at least.
Meanwhile, the other wyvern was still trying to get at Boom. Talon turned and focused his attention on the beast as it banked around for another run at the train. He concentrated and drew magical energy to him, focusing it into a bolt of pure power. He pointed at the wyvern and shouted a magical phrase over the shrieking of the wind. The mana-bolt slammed into the creature with the force of an oncoming train. The wyvern shrieked in pain and pulled up at the last moment, flying over the top of the train and missing Boom completely. Still, the spell didn't incapacitate the creature, and it kept on coming, this time headed straight for Talon.
Talon started another spell, even knowing there was no way he'd be in time. The wyvern's stinger
caught him in the right thigh and Talon cried out in pain, nearly losing his grip on the ladder. He could feel a terrible burning sensation spreading out from his leg as the wyvern's venom took effect. It was like that part of his body was on fire, a fire that was rapidly spreading outward. The injured wyvern drew back and prepared to stab a second time to finish its prey.
There was a loud crack and a jet of flames shot from the open door of the helicopter, striking the wyvern full in the chest. Speren Silverblade stood in the doorway, fire flowing from his outstretched hand like a flame-thrower. The creature wailed as withering flames flowed over it, burning exposed skin and flesh. The creature fell back, beating its wings furiously to stay aloft, and the train and the chopper pulled ahead, leaving the wyvern behind.
Talon struggled to retain his grip on the rope ladder. His leg was starting to go numb, and he was afraid he would lose consciousness.
"Talon . . Val started to say over the commlink.
"Don't worry about me," he snapped, gritting his teeth, "just get us down there to pick up Boom!" The chopper started to drop down in response to his order.
Talon could see Boom struggle back onto the roof of the train, hand over hand, lying flat as the wind tore across it. The hills were looming high overhead as the train headed for the dark mouth of the tunnel opening.
"Grab the ladder!" Talon yelled. Boom levered himself up and reached for the flailing end of the rope ladder, but even his huge troll arms weren't long enough. It flapped just out of reach. Val was trying to pull the chopper into a better position to give Boom another shot, but Talon wasn't sure there'd be time.
"Boss, I can't hold these lizards off any more." Aracos said. "They're headed your way again." Wyverns were nothing if not persistent, and they were not renowned for their intelligence. Talon glanced back to see the forms heading for the chopper like batwinged fighter planes.
Ignoring the burning pain of the wyvern's toxin, Talon gestured tightly with one hand, focusing on the end of the ladder. Power flowed, and he gasped out words of power to shape it to his will. An invisible hand seized hold of the ladder and pulled the end of it toward Boom's outstretched arm. The troll grabbed hold as the hills seemed to rush up at them.
"Val, pull us up!" Talon said. The chopper pulled up sharply, lifting Boom off the roof of the train. The engine whined as they fought to clear the steep hillside, Boom's feet lifting mere meters off the ground as the train plunged into the darkness of the tunnel.
"Incoming!" Talon heard Val say as the wyverns arced in toward the chopper again. The damn things were amazingly persistent and stubborn. Boom was starting to climb up the ladder toward Talon as he began concentrating on another spell.
"Aracos, aid me." Talon commanded.
He was getting tired of this. The wyvern's poison burned in him like a fever. All the rapid-fire spellcasting was making him feel dizzy and lightheaded, and he was battered and bruised from hanging on to the rope ladder. He took all his anger toward the situation, toward Alamais, and toward being set up and hung out to dry, and compressed it into a glowing sphere in one outstretched hand. It burned white-hot at its core, a fire of anger and pain. As the wyvern arced in, Talon hurled the sphere at it with all his might.
The sphere streaked out like a tiny meteor and struck the oncoming wyvern dead center. There was a massive boom and a detonation that nearly knocked Talon off the ladder he clung to. The little ball blossomed into a massive sphere of flames that engulfed the wyvern completely. The creature let out a shriek of pain that echoed through the hills, then died out as the flames did too. The wyvern dropped toward the ground, its flesh covered in burns, parts of its wingflaps burned away entirely by the blast.
Talon watched the creature fall with a certain fascination, then glanced down as he felt something tap him on the foot.
"Start climbing!" Boom shouted from directly below him. Talon nodded numbly and started up the ladder as quickly as he could. The blast seemed to startle the other wyvern, but it had not yet given up the chase. Talon wasn't sure he could manage another spell, but he had to try. He got to the open door of the helicopter, and Hammer's strong arm reached out to help haul him aboard. Speren Silverblade stood near the doorway, obviously readying another spell of his own as Boom clambered aboard close behind Talon. Once in, he hugged the floor of the chopper for a moment in sheer relief.
Talon leaned over the big troll to look out the door as the wyvern closed in. He wasn't done yet, and for some reason didn't want to show weakness in front of Silverblade anyway. He gathered power to him again and shaped it into a spell. Almost at the same moment, he and Silverblade loosed their spells on the oncoming creature. The twin manabolts stabbed out like magical lasers. The bolts struck the wyvern and sundered its life force, killing it almost instantly as the creature's uncomprehending mind was overwhelmed. The wyvern dropped from the sky like a stone, crashing into a copse of trees on the hillside below.
Silverblade slumped against the side of the chopper, holding onto a wall-staple with one hand. Hammer quickly moved to pull the door closed as Boom carefully rolled Talon off of him.
"Talon was hit." Boom said with concern as Talon slumped limply to the floor. The last spell seemed to have taken it out of him. Boom lifted Talon like a parent would lift a small child and moved him to one of the bench seats. The ragged hole in the leg of Talon's jeans was covered in blood.
Trouble came back from the cockpit with medkit in hand as Boom tore open Talon's jeans to expose the wound.
Silverblade waved Trouble off, "I have a spell . . ." he began to say, but Boom interrupted him with one raised hand.
"Wouldn't worry about it." the troll said, crouched over talon. "Take a look at this."
Both Trouble and Silverblade leaned over Boom's shoulder to see the hole in Talon's leg nearly closed. Even as they watched, the wound appeared to shrink, until only a small, tender-looking spot remained. Boom reached out and placed one big hand over his friend's forehead.
"He's got no fever, and his pulse seems normal."
"His aura is strong and undisturbed." Silverblade said, shaking his head. "How is this possible? I've never seen a human recover from any injury like that. Wyvern venom is among the most fatal there is."
"I've seen Talon pull off some pretty amazing healing spells," Trouble said, "but not while he was unconscious. Aracos?"
There was a shimmering in the air, and Talon's familiar spirit appeared at his master's side in wolf form. "Wasn't me." the spirit's thought-voice said. "I’ve never seen anything like it."
Talon groaned and began to stir.
"Oh, frag." he muttered, his eyes fluttering open. "Did we get it?"
"And then some." Boom said, touching him gently on the shoulder. "Those wyverns aren't going to be bothering anyone anymore. How are you doing?"
Talon blinked a couple of times. "Fine, I think. In fact, I feel pretty good. Way better than I should after all that spellcasting and . . ."
Suddenly he sat bolt upright, one hand reaching for his leg. "The wyvern," he said, "it stung . . ." He stopped and his eyes widened as his fingers brushed across unblemished skin beneath his bloody clothing.
"Almost completely healed." Boom said. "And it looks like the venom isn't affecting you either."
"But how?" Talon asked, a look of confusion on his face.
"That's what we were going to ask you." Trouble replied. "We don't know. None of us do. Guess you've got a guardian angel or something, chummer."
"We're going to need one." Silverblade broke in. "There's still the matter of Alamais and whatever he's planning. Alamais is obviously working with Winternight, or perhaps using them for some purpose of his own, and they have control of a nuclear weapon. The devastation they could inflict is immense."
Talon glanced at his teammates and read the expressions on their faces.
"He's right. Whatever Alamais is planning, we can't let him get away with it. The dragon set us up to take out Lofwyr, but there's got to be more to it than th
at. If we can find out what Alamais is doing, maybe get word to Saeder-Krupp, we can tip them off."
"Do you really think S-K would believe us?" Boom asked.
"I don't know, but we've got to try. If anyone wants out of this, now's a good time to say so. We can drop you off, and you can find your own way back to Boston or wherever. No hard feelings, no questions asked." He looked from one face crowded around him to another.
"I follow the needs of my people." Silverblade said first. "Alamais is a monster, and what he is planning must be stopped."
"I'm not looking to play hero." Hammer said. "But I don't like being set up, either. The dragon used us, and we've got a rep to protect. If we can take him down and clear ourselves with Saeder-Krupp at the same time, I say we do it."
"Same here." Trouble said. "We're the only ones who know about the dragon's plan so far. We've got to do something."
Talon looked over at Boom, who answered with an expressive shrug. "Hey, probably nothing good on the trid tonight anyway. I mean, who wants to live a long and safe life, right? Count me in."
"How about you, Val?" Talon called up to the cockpit. There was a moment of pregnant silence.
"Haven't been to Berlin in a long time." Val said. "It'll be just like old times."
"All right." Talon said. "Let's do this. If Alamais thinks we're history, he's sadly mistaken."
20
As Val explained, the Free City of Berlin was almost pure anarchy. Even by the lax standards of some North American metroplexes, Berlin was practically an open city. Val brought the team in to the Schonefeld Airport, where she knew some people in the smuggling business. They were able to land at the airport with only a quick conversation over the comm system, and they skipped customs and immigration altogether, even though all visitors to Berlin were supposed to be issued a green card and pass a customs inspection.
"They say that, but nobody really bothers with it." Val said. "The government—such as it is—hasn't got the money to clean up the streets, much less pay people to handle customs inspections. The private contractors who do run the airport couldn't care less what people bring into the city, so long as they don't try to blow up the airport itself. That's probably one reason why Winternight came here; Berlin is one of the only cities in Europe where you could cart a nuclear bomb in on a freight train and nobody would even notice."
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