by Joshua Cook
Grellnot leaped out of the cavern, appearing out in the world above. He could smell the magic flows now, and knew the Slyph had opened Bridges to the human world, more than he had ever seen her do at once. “She is making her move now. She is trying to win.” Grellnot was gleeful. It no longer needed to listen to the Slyph, it no longer feared her or her creations. Grellnot was finally, totally, its own master now.
“Grellnot will come for you!” Howling, it vanished into the air, only leaving the smell of rotting meat and mold behind.
“Sal, you don’t need to fight things on my behalf. I fight my own battles.” Cendan half-yelled as they ran back to the EVA. Sal ignored him, however, and ran faster. Cursing inwardly, Cendan searched though the knowledge of Oakheart, trying to figure out what was next.
Cendan and Sal worked at a feverish pace, laying out bypasses to the worst damaged areas. Both were alone in their thoughts of what was happening out in their world, with the fate of Marcus and Jasmine on their minds. “Do you think this machine can really talk? Can it really stop… this?” Sal asked as they hoisted up a large glass pipe.
“It can talk. I’ve been in… some kind of communication with it already. Just feelings, thoughts mostly,” Cendan answered. “Okay, after this pipe, we have one last area to work around.” He pointed to a twisted metal case. “I know what’s in that, and where the spare is. Thankfully, I don’t think we need to build it, we just need to slap the other one in.”
Sal nodded. “How do we get this thing working again, though? I don’t see an on switch anywhere.”
“No idea. But let’s get all the damaged worked around, and then we will figure it out.” Cendan had been wondering that same thing—he had no idea how this was going to start doing… whatever it was it did. The information fed to him by Oakheart, into his focus, didn’t actually say. He wasn’t sure if that was on purpose, or if it had been an oversight, or sadly, if it had just been forgotten over the years.
Cendan really did not want to have to try to search the book for the information, even if he did know how to read it. Time was key here, and he knew the process of going through the notebook would take hours, if not days—none of which he had. He watched a trickle and then a flood of blue glowing liquid flood the glass pipe before entering another metal one farther up. A hum filled the air as systems and parts of EVA came to life for the first time in over a millennium.
Reaching out in his mind, he could feel the EVA. It was far stronger now. Can you hear me, EVA? Can you talk?
Talk, no. But I can hear you. You are the one who told me of my Maker’s last days? The voice of the EVA flooded through his mind. I am almost whole. I can feel the portals I cannot close them, though, not yet. I do not have enough power yet. Finish the work, then join with me.
Join with you? I don’t understand. Cendan was confused. This also wasn’t in the information that had been passed on.
I cannot do my job unless a Maker joins with me. We… bind our power. You are still you, I am still me, but our powers are merged. With that combined power, I can close the Bridges and send the creatures of the Slyph back to where they came from. This is why only a Maker can fix me—only with the merge am I whole. The voice of the EVA trailed off in Cendan’s mind.
“Cendan?” Sal’s voice brought him back to the physical world. “Dude, don’t collapse on me or anything, but you kind of freaked me out a bit, man.” Sal was worried, unsure. “You’re not going to pass out, right?”
“No, sorry, I was… in communication with the EVA. We are close, Sal. Very close. And I know how to get it working again.” Cendan slid down the ladder he had been perched on. “Come on, let’s get that box replaced, now!”
They took off down the halls, moving as fast as they could. Adrenaline and excitement overcame the tiredness they felt for a moment. They were almost done. The box was right where Cendan expected it to be—a welcome change from all the searching they had had to do before. It was the size of an old milk crate, but was heavy and sealed tight, with just the connections it needed as its openings.
Lifting it together, they started back, slowly this time, as they carried the weight. “What is this thing, anyway?” Sal asked. “Weighs a lot more than I thought it would. It’s heavy as hell.”
“No idea, really. Haven’t had time to really get to know everything that Oakheart told me. This is a rush job to end all rush jobs,” Cendan answered, “My hands are dying here, let me shift my grip.” They continued this way until they reached the EVA room. “Okay, Sal, let me get the old unit out. While I’m doing that, put that thing on the pulley-crane thing. We need to hold this beast steady as I put it in.”
Sal nodded and got the boxy unit set up to be lifted to its location. Cendan was removing screws as fast as he could, and fighting an old weld, when the noise came—a screaming alarm, so loud that Cendan dropped everything and nearly fell off the ladder he was on. It was over as soon as it had started, and then returned again, blasting through them both.
Sal had gone down on one knee with the blast, but when he raised his head up at Cendan, he was white as a sheet. “It’s the base alarm. Something must have gotten in here!” Sal yelled in the gap between the sounds. Sal reached into his pocket and took out his focus. “I have to go. You’ll have to put the last piece in alone.”
“Sal, just lock the—” But the sound cut him off and Cendan watched as Sal ran out of the room, towards whatever had entered the Bridgefinders’ headquarters. The sound came once more, and Cendan was again unable to even think. “Stop that damn noise!” he yelled, and suddenly, it was gone.
The Slyph groaned. Something had happened at the cavern, something bad. She gathered herself, drawing as much magic as she could that was free here, and tried to go there. She was struck by a sensation similar to that of hitting a hard floor. She couldn’t go into the cavern. Her birthplace was blocked from her! The Slyph tried again, and pain flooded her body—a raw, tearing pain. Without the magic there, without the threads of power connecting it all together, she could not appear there.
With a surge of effort, the Slyph did manage to appear at the edge of the damage. In her mind, the Slyph could see the edge of the torn area around the massive gaping hole in the magic. There in the middle was the weak point where she had come into existence, but it was now cut off from the rest of the Echo World, no threads of magic connected it to the rest.
On top of it, her first creations here, her first children, were dead. All of them. Dead. There was no magic to keep them alive, and they had died. Grellnot.
Grellnot was also missing, but she didn’t think it was dead. Grellnot had done something—this had the foul thing’s hunger written on it. Somehow the thing had found a way to feed on the raw magic here and ripped it apart. It was also gone, which meant for the first time, the Slyph felt fear. Real fear. Her very existence was at risk. The Slyph knew that she needed to merge the worlds even more now—revenge for Oakheart was minor in comparison. She needed the magic of the human world even more now.
With a thought the Slyph was gone, the empty hole in the Echo World was a testament to the new power coming for her.
Cendan knew there was no time to consider how or why that had worked. Quickly, he retrieved the screwdriver and screws he had dropped when the alarm first sounded. His ears were still ringing, and he was unsteady on the ladder, but he had no choice. He couldn’t hear anything out in the hallway in the direction that Sal had run, but that didn’t mean much.
Thankfully, Sal had already rigged the last part to be lifted, so Cendan could hopefully get it into place by himself. Removing the last blot, the wrecked unit fell to the ground with a heavy crash, a few stray sparks thrown off the ground from the impact.
Cendan grabbed the rope and hoisted the new unit into place. Quickly, he told himself, faster, faster! Despite his differences with the others, they were the closest things to friends he had, and he wasn’t about to let some damn creature of the Echo World hurt any of them, if he could stop it.<
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The replacement unit slid into place as though it were greased. Now, just to tighten the connections, he thought, when he heard it. A howl. A howl that made his teeth sit on edge. Another bolt—two more to go. A scream rent the air, followed by a thud. Was that Sal, or what had howled? Cendan didn’t know, but he couldn’t stop to find out. One more bolt. One more. Faster!
The door flung open, and a bloody body was thrown into the room. Sal. Two creatures on four legs came in, covered in skin and shiny black plates, with three large tentacles sprouting from parts of their bodies. The howls came again, causing Cendan’s screwdriver to slip off the final bolt. “Damn it!” Cendan yelled out loud. The Hounds leaped—one final turn—
Good morning. You seem to be in some trouble… here. That’s better. Eva’s voice echoed through Cendan’s mind. What surprised him the most were the animal-like creatures. They were frozen and fallen to the floor, hard. There was no movement at all.
Are they dead? Cendan asked. He hoped they were. Sal was dead because of those… whatever they were.
No. I have used some of the leftover magic I had stored to freeze them in time. The effect won’t last long, but long enough to complete my full repair and recovery. We must complete the merging. Do you know what to do? A long pause followed. Cendan honestly had no idea. I can see the answer is no. Very well. During the process, did you see the keyhole? Your focus must go in, and you must turn it clockwise. Do not remove your hand from the key.
So that’s what the keyhole was for! “Why clockwise?” Cendan asked. He wasn’t sure if EVA could hear him yet verbally, but it was a good test while he got into position. He really didn’t want to get near those things. Frozen or not, the air of danger around them was noticeable.
Unknown. I do not know why it must be clockwise. This is strange. I know that it can go the other way, but I can’t find a reason for it. Maybe after I am fully up the answer will reveal itself. But we do not have time to wonder right now, Maker. We must complete the starting sequence.
So the EVA didn’t know everything. Cendan agreed, however, that this really wasn’t the time for conjecture. Carefully climbing over the mass of intertwined wires, pipes, and gears, Cendan moved himself into position. My name is Cendan by the way. Cendan Key.
“Thank you, Cendan. I find your last name amusing, since your focus is a key. Good, you are almost there, but please watch your step, I do not want to be broken again anytime soon.” Humor filled EVA’s voice, and Cendan nodded.
Truthfully, Cendan was focused on trying not to think about Sal’s broken and bloody body below him and not really on where his feet were going. He hated the fact that Sal had run off and sacrificed himself to save him. It was stupid. They could have just barred the door that might have delayed the animal dog things until EVA came back to life. Now Sal was dead, and Cendan would have to explain why to Marcus and Jasmine, assuming they survived this day.
Finally hanging off a few pipes, Cendan was in position. Okay, so just put the key in place and turn clockwise? It still felt odd talking to something that only answered him in his head.
Yes. It will feel a bit strange when the merge happens, Cendan. Hold on tight. And I am sorry about the other Finder. I can feel your sorrow and frustration, you know. A comforting feeling came over Cendan.
It was creepy to have a disembodied artificial intelligence accessing his feelings. “Tradeoffs and sacrifices,” Cendan muttered. There wasn’t any time to waste. His key slid into place with a soft click. Cendan took a deep breath and turned it clockwise.
Instantly he could feel the magic in the air. A million points of multicolored light danced around him. He knew that each one was magic. Some of it was concentrated around the dog creatures, though there were threads of blue and green, too—the magic of the Echo World. Studying the creatures carefully, he noted that the things had both, so they must be creatures created by the Slyph back when Oakheart was still there. No wonder they were able to enter the lair—they were infused with magic from both sides, just like most of this place was.
On top of all of this, he could see EVA. To him, EVA appeared to be a middle-aged woman, businesslike and competent. But all around her, the mix of magic flowed and reached towards him. Cendan reached out in response, his own flow of magic—silver, green, red, and gold points of light flew towards EVA.
Connection.
EVA was in his head now. And always would be he knew instantly. EVA was part of him just as somehow he was part of it. This is going to take some getting used to, Cendan said to the figure in his mind.
I did say it would feel a bit strange. But the merge is complete, and I am reborn! Cendan lost sight of the magic, but could still feel the presence of EVA in his mind. I assume you wish me to close all the Bridges and send all the creatures home, correct? What do you wish me to do with the creatures below, the ones frozen? I can send them back, or I can store them. Put them away here where they will stay.
Close all of the Bridges? Of course. Send everything away. All of it, even the things below. I want them gone! Cendan answered her, his anger getting the best of him.
It will be my pleasure.
Cendan felt a gathering of power–a tingle at first, then a rush and the almost familiar sensation of being plunged into icy cold water. Then, with a burst, the power was released. The dog creatures below shimmered and were gone. Cendan quickly climbed down and ran over to Sal. His body lay at nearly a perfect ninety-degree angle, unmoving.
“Damn,” Cendan muttered. Hopefully Marcus and Jasmine had made it out of this ordeal alive He ran to the map room as quickly as he could. It is good to know the map still works, EVA mentioned in his head. Once we have more time, there are a few things I can do with the map that help it function better.
Do not despair, Cendan. I believe the other two Finders… Marcus and Jasmine? Yes, Marcus and Jasmine. They are alive. I can feel them in your world—their foci allow me to see them, or at least know about them.
While he was grateful for this piece of information, Cendan was still not sure he wanted EVA having free rein of his mind. Okay, until I get used to… this… merge, this joining and you being in my head all the time, can you not go rummaging through my thoughts? Is that possible?
Yes. It’s possible. I will do so for now. I’m not all bad, you know. Cendan could swear that EVA was laughing. Arriving at the map, two things were clear. One, EVA had done her/its job—the map was clear. Two, the floor was covered with dead leaves. “What’s with the leaves?” he asked. “Never saw those before. Normally they just vanish back into the map.”
I am not sure. I will have to look into it. The other two Finders are on their way back here, by the way. EVA felt muffled somewhat, and Cendan realized that she was trying to follow his request to occupy less of his mind.
“Question—if you can freeze the creatures of the Slyph, and have this power to banish things, how did you get damaged in the first place? How did that Valock get in and wreck you?” Cendan wondered. It had bothered him since he had that vision. How had a normal creature of the Slyph’s gotten in and wrecked a machine with this much power?
It’s embarrassing, but that night, I was involved with an experiment with my creator, the one you call Oakheart. That experiment caused me, my mind at least, to have far fewer senses. I quite simply didn’t see it. How the Slyph knew that was the night we were going to try… the experiment, I do not know. Cendan could feel that EVA really didn’t want to talk about it. What had EVA and her creator been up to?
Then Marcus and Jasmine burst into the room, appearing far worse than Cendan had imagined. Marcus was drained, and a large gash went from his forehead down his side and his arm. It was still bleeding. Jasmine was almost as bad—her hair was half gone and, by the smell, burned away. A cluster of blisters near her hairline added credence to this theory.
“Marcus, Jasmine, are you two all right?” Cendan asked, shock at their appearance written on his face. “You both look like it was hell out there.”
Jasmine nodded, lowering her eyes. “It was bad, Cendan, real bad.” Cendan, for once, didn’t over analyze it. Walking over to Jasmine, he slowly put his arms around her and hugged. Her back was like rock at first, but he could feel it start to relax. The moment was broken by Marcus slapping Cendan on the back, hard.
“You did it!” Marcus grinned. “You and Sal fixed the machine? It had to be that. We were doing everything we could to stop Bridges and trying to ignore the creatures at first. At least if the Bridges were closed, nothing else could come through. We had only managed to close four, then all of a sudden, the Bridge we were at reversed, and it started sucking the creatures back through like a straw. I’ve never seen anything like that.” Marcus’s smile widened in spite of his pain.
“We could see other creatures and things we’d never seen before get sucked back as well. It was crazy,” Jasmine added. Her voice much quieter than Marcus’s jubilant one. “The best thing was that even though people saw the things, rumors are already starting that it was a publicity stunt, some new crazy augmented reality thing, not real.”
Marcus laughed. “Never underestimate the ability of people to rationalize anything away that they can, Jasmine. You know that.” Glancing around, Marcus asked. “Hey, where is Sal? Getting some food?”
Cendan felt his face fall. “Sal is dead. We were about to finish the machine, bring EVA back online. Two… I don’t know what they were exactly, but two dog things with tentacles, they got in. I think they were like Grellnot, made of both worlds. They got in and Sal ran out to drive them off. I tried to tell him to just bar the door…”
“What?” Marcus sat on the floor, hanging his head. “Damn it, Sal.”
Jasmine sat next to him. “Marcus, he did his job. He protected Cendan and the EVA until it could come online.”
“A job I gave him. I didn’t want the idiot to die!” Marcus buried his face in his hands. Jasmine kneeled down and put her arms around Marcus, saying nothing.