Mystic Militia

by Cyndi Friberg

  “She didn’t intentionally deceive you. She was just—”

  “Protecting me. Yeah, I get it. But it needs to stop. I’m not that fragile. I’ve been dealing with Angie’s dramas ever since our mother died.”

  “This is no ordinary drama. You must admit.”

  “I’ll admit I’m thrilled to have help, if you admit it’s she’s with Nazerel.”

  She was obviously feeling stronger today, so he was brutally honest. “If Angie’s boyfriend was able to return the call, I think he would have by now. I don’t know if Nazerel has Angie, but something has gone wrong.”

  That seemed to satisfy her need for candor, so he tried to convince her to eat something. She wrinkled her nose and insisted she wasn’t hungry. They’d had a hearty breakfast before leaving Tori’s house, so he didn’t push the issue.

  One by one the other team members returned to the ship, providing some much needed distraction. Everyone was respectful of Tori, but they also enjoyed giving her a hard time. Blayne especially went out of his way to rile her.

  “So let me make sure I have this correct.” Blayne’s features were expressionless, but Lor recognized mischief in his silver-blue eyes. “Humans pretend to be other people and require fake scenery in which to act out these dramas.”

  “They aren’t all dramas,” Tori told him. “Some plays are funny and some of the performances showcase acrobatic skills rather than portraying a story.” She was trying so hard to help Blayne understand the live entertainment industry and all the while Blayne was simply encouraging her to talk.

  “And your role is to create these fake locations.” Disbelief crept into his tone.

  “It’s not as easy as it sounds. Space is often limited and the stage must be able to transform from one location to the next very quickly.”

  “You receive compensation for playing with paint and canvas ‘flats’?” The other men started laughing and Tori glared at Blayne.

  “You’re making fun of me. Aren’t you?” She slumped back in the booth with an adorable pout.

  “I’ve been to the theater on many planets, including Earth,” he admitted with a sly smile. “Ontarians prefer interactive entertainment, but I understand what a set designer does.”

  “Then why were you playing dumb?” She arched her brow, clearly annoyed by his pretense.

  “That part wasn’t an act.” Dekker elbowed Blayne in the ribs to another chorus of laughter.

  “If you’ve finished having fun at Tori’s expense,” Lor cut in. “Can we discuss logistics?”

  The soldiers immediately shifted gears while Blayne took a moment longer to abandon his amusement.

  “Can all the hunters teleport or just the alphas?” Sid asked.

  “They all can, but their ranges vary. Some will be easier to trap than others.” Lor looked around and realized Odintar was still on the command deck with Morgan. He used a telepathic nudge to summon him.

  “What’s going on?” Odintar asked as he entered the galley a few minutes later.

  “We’re strategizing,” Lor motioned toward the narrow bench, the only seat left in the room. “Do you have specific information on the hunters’ abilities?”

  “I asked Varrik for a list, but he said they’d been uncooperative during the induction process.”

  “No big surprise,” Dekker muttered. He was the most talkative of the soldiers. Sid and Kris responded when asked a question. Otherwise they remained quiet and watchful.

  “Your arsenal is impressive. Did you guys bring some sort of portable containment field?” Blayne asked Dekker.

  “We each have a standard issue energy cage, but it’s hit and miss with Mystics. Sometimes they’re trapped, other times they flash right out without a pause. That’s why the Overlord tends to send Mystics after Mystics. You’re too unpredictable.”

  “And don’t forget their nanites,” Sid reminded and all eyes shifted to Odintar.

  “Why are you looking at me?” Odintar took a step back then bristled.

  “Have you tried to escape an energy cage since you were injected with the nanites?” Lor asked.

  “I don’t like where this conversation is headed.” Odintar crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the room at large.

  Lor motioned Dekker out of the booth. “We’ll test it on Odintar. If your energy cage holds him, it will probably hold the hunters.”

  “Probably?” Odintar snapped. “You’re going to torture me for a ‘probably’?”

  “It’s painless.” Dekker scooted out of the booth, Sid and Kris close behind. “We need a bigger space. If I deploy a cage in here, it will rearrange the furniture.”

  All the furniture in the galley was bolted down, so Lor didn’t argue. Dekker went to the armory and put on his flex-lar armor. He hadn’t bothered with the helmet because a smooth pad integrated into the sleeve controlled the armor’s auxiliary functions.

  Everyone followed them outside, then Dekker and Odintar faced off.

  The sun had just begun to set and the heat was still oppressive. Sand and shriveled plants stretched as far as the eye could see. Why had humans chosen to build a city in such an inhospitable location? Dekker launched the energy cage, jarring Odintar. He endured the oppressive pressure for a moment then flashed a short distance away.

  “Damn.” Dekker deactivated the cage. “That’s not much help.”

  “You’re going to have to try harder than that if you want to hurt me.” Odintar grinned, apparently embracing the challenge.

  The low rumble of an engine drew Lor’s attention to the vehicle approaching from the southeast. With large wheels and ample ground clearance, the rugged conveyance was obviously designed for off-road travel. Dekker and Kris flanked Lor as the others moved into defensive positions. Even with the ship concealed, they weren’t taking any chances.

  The driver stopped the vehicle a short distance away and rolled down his window. “I’m looking for Lor. My name is Elias Bertram.”

  Lor motioned for the others to relax as he moved forward to greet their visitor. “I’m Lor dar Joon.” Elias opened the door and unfolded his long legs from inside the compact vehicle. Though dressed in jeans and a pullover shirt, his short brown hair and muscular build hinted at his military background. He held out his hand and Lor shook it. “Let me introduce everyone.” Lor provided each man’s name and Elias shook their hands.

  The human’s gaze returned again and again to Dekker, or actually Dekker’s armor. Lor expected Elias to rattle off a barrage of questions. Instead he looked around for a moment then said, “I thought you had a ship docked out here.” His disappointment was unmistakable.

  Lor watched the newcomer closely. “You have to pass the interview before you get the job.”

  “Understandable.” Elias met Lor’s gaze, keeping his expression open and calm. “Ask me anything.”

  “How long have you worked with Morgan?”

  Gold and brown streaks gleamed within the humans green eyes. The combination was often called hazel. “I work for Morgan. She doesn’t flaunt her authority, but we all know who has final say.”

  The slick evasion arched Lor’s brow. “That didn’t answer my question.”

  “Six years, sir.” Along with the deference came military formality. Apparently Elias had realized Lor intended to conduct an actual interview. “I’ve held three positions. I’m currently leader of Morgan’s tactical team.”

  Meaning Morgan had other teams? Research, recon, maybe an infiltration team? Interesting. “Have you ever encountered an honest to God alien?” Lor leaned in and asked the question with dramatic inflection.

  Elias’ brow furrowed and he leaned in as well. “I was under the impression that I’m speaking with one now.”

  Lor finally smiled. “Morgan told me you’d been fully briefed. I was just checking.”

  “I understand the background of the Shadow Assassins and the importance of our mission.”

  “Good.”

  “Should we continue, sir?”
Dekker prompted. “We have other strategies to test.”

  “Do you honestly expect me to stand here all day and let you launch shit at me?” Odintar laughed, but his expression was anything but amused.

  “What is the current objective?” Elias asked, clearly confused by the exchange.

  “Capture,” Lor told him. “The rest is moot if we can’t find a way to keep the hunters in one place.”

  “Is capture the only acceptable outcome? How much force has been approved?” He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not as bloodthirsty as that made me sound.”

  Unwilling to risk the safety of his men and the success of their mission on Mason’s assessment of her comrade, Lor scanned Elias’ mind. Lor kept his mental touch light and agile, scanning only as deeply as he needed to ascertain the human’s basic nature. He sensed strength and determination, honor and…pain. Despite Elias’ easy smile and confident demeanor, he had suffered both physical and mental agony. The wounds were deep and expansive, yet Elias was actively working on recovery.

  Lor withdrew with a sigh. He had yet to scan a mind that was pure goodness or pure evil. Humanoids seemed to contain a complex blending of the two. Elias’ darkness might be undeniable, still nothing Lor sensed compromised the human’s trustworthiness “Unless we manage to find them all in one place—which I doubt—we’ll need to interrogate each captive.”

  “Understood.” Elias clasped his hands behind his back and waited for more information.

  “Each hunter can teleport,” Lor explained, “which makes apprehension challenging. They also have nanites that could interfere with our usual tactics. A good blast from a pulse pistol will stun a Mystic badly enough to keep him from teleporting, but I don’t know how it will affect the hunters.”

  “Why were our weapons never tested on the hunters?” Dekker asked.

  “The Joint Council considers the Shadow Assassins victims of their circumstances and insists that they be treated accordingly.” The bitterness in Lor’s voice made it obvious he disagreed.

  “What about a Taser?” Elias asked. “Maybe the current will overload the nanites.”

  “I’m not familiar with the term.”

  “A stun gun. It launches penetrating probes that pass current through the victim’s nervous and muscular systems. In humans, it causes uncontrolled muscle spasms and rigid paralysis. The victim basically loses control of their body.”

  Dekker moved forward, obviously intrigued by the description. “Do you have one with you?”

  Elias laughed. “Asks the man in flexible armor? Is your suit entirely defensive?”

  “Of course not.” Dekker waved away the possibility. “There are four separate munitions routines, each with variable combinations and intensity levels. Our pulse technology sounds similar to this Taser.”

  “You two can compare notes once we move back inside.” Lor pushed his fingers through his damp hair. “It’s hotter than hellfire out here.”

  “Understood.” Despite his capitulation Dekker’s shoulders squared. “But I think Elias is on to something. If we focus on incapacitation rather than capture, we have more options.”

  The last thing Lor wanted to create was trigger-happy soldiers. Still, he had to consider every possibility. “Will either your pulse pistol or his Taser gun incapacitate without causing permanent damage?” Lor regretted the question as soon as it passed his lips.

  A conspirator’s smile passed between Dekker and Elias. “There’s only one way to find out—sir.”

  Lor wasn’t fooled by Dekker’s belated “sir”. The soldiers were enjoying this. “I’ll subject Odintar to one or the other. He still needs to be able to fight once this is over.”

  “Your compassion is overwhelming,” Odintar grumbled.

  “We’re more familiar with the pulse pistol, so let’s test the Taser,” Dekker suggested.

  A soft, warm hand touched his forearm and Lor looked down into Tori’s concerned gaze. “Is this really necessary? I’ve seen videos on the internet of what a Taser can do. It wasn’t pretty.”

  She’d remained quiet and unobtrusive until someone’s safety was compromised. He squeezed her hand and smiled, pleased by her protectiveness. “He’ll be fine, love. Unfortunately, we really do need to know how each weapon will affect the hunters.”

  “If it’s no big deal,” Odintar challenged, “why don’t you let him shoot it at you?”

  “I don’t have nanites, but I’d like to link with you. I want to feel how the weapon affects you.”

  Odintar stomped past Blayne and stood beside Lor. “This better not take me out of the real fight or I’m coming after you.” Odintar pointed at Dekker and then Elias. “Both of you.”

  “Taser waves are uncomfortable, but there will be no lasting damage.” Elias delivered the line with a straight face, but the gleam in his hazel eyes made Lor suspicious of the information.

  Elias walked to his vehicle and dug something out from behind the driver seat. He returned with a black-and-yellow hand gun.

  “Does that launch bullets or just electrodes?” Lor eyed the unfamiliar pistol.

  “Just probes. I have several other weapons as well.”

  No longer concerned with the heat, Lor looked at Odintar. “Would you like to form the link or shall I?”

  “Oh, you’ll feel everything I feel. I guarantee it.”

  Lor accepted the threat with an understanding smile. “Remember, you’re not just exploring the pain. You need to attempt to escape.”

  “Understood.” Odintar took a deep breath and braced for the pain. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Lor opened his mind to the other Mystic. “Dekker, record the results just in case something unexpected happens.” He gave Tori a quick kiss then shooed her back several steps.

  “I’m recording now. Let us know when you’re ready.”

  Lor honestly thought he was prepared for the pain as he said, “Ready.” Then the probes struck Odintar’s chest and searing agony exploded through his body. They cried out in unison and rational thought was momentarily eclipsed by the excruciating pulses.

  Escape. The singular thought rang through Odintar’s mind, echoing across the link and into Lor. Their muscles convulsed and cramped, making intentional movement impossible. Gathering energy into Odintar’s chest propelled the pain onto a new level, but he refused to release the power. With one violent thrust, he forced the probes from his body and collapsed into the dirt.

  Tori knelt at Lor’s side her heart beating wildly. Watching him lose control of his body had been harrowing. He’d flailed for a second then stiffened and fell, not even able to control how he landed. It had been horrible. She brushed his hair back from his clammy face, her hand trembling. “Are you okay?”

  “Not something I’d do every day,” he panted, “but I’ll survive.” She helped him sit. His muscles still twitched with echoes of the spasms. “How long did it take him to expel the probes?”

  “Five seconds,” Dekker told him. “I’m sure it felt longer. Odintar’s still dazed.”

  “How does this compare to your pulse pistol?” Elias asked.

  “Looks like the Taser hurts worse, but the pulse pistol is more effective,” Dekker concluded. “A good long pulse would have left either of them unconscious rather than dazed. Being able to adjust the output setting gives us more control.”

  Odintar sat on the ground moaning as he rubbed his abused muscles.

  Lor stubbornly tried to stand, but even with Tori’s assistance, his legs wouldn’t support him. “Both weapons will prevent their escape. How many pulse pistols do we have on board?”

  “Six handheld units and four built into armor,” Dekker listed.

  “How long would it take for you to train Elias or one of his people to use the armor? Seems foolish not to exploit every advantage.”

  Anticipation lit Elias’ gold-green eyes, making his excitement obvious. “I’m a quick study.” She hadn’t sensed deception in the newcomer since his arrival. He seemed
direct and sincere, just a bit too militant for her complete peace of mind.

  Dekker shook his head. “It would take weeks not hours. Sorry. Besides you’d need a neuro-interface, which requires surgery and a trip to Ontariese.”

  Odintar finally stirred enough to speak. “That was fun. Can I demonstrate some of my abilities on Dekker?”

  “Temper, temper.” Dekker wisely turned his head before he grinned. “It was all in the name of science.”

  “Science is a Mystic’s worst enemy or hadn’t you heard.” With a little help from Blayne, Odintar made it to his feet.

  Odintar’s progress motivated Lor to try again. With her shoulder lodged in his armpit and his arm draped over her shoulders, he maneuvered his feet beneath him. His legs still wobbled, but he finally managed to stand.

  After wiping his face with his forearm, Lor motioned toward the ship. “Back inside. I think we have a basic direction.”

  “One last thing.” Elias halted the procession. “What about your abilities? How do Mystics capture other Mystics?”

  “Like this.” Blayne threw a web of Mystic energy and it wrapped around Lor like a net. The shimmering strands stung Tori’s arm. She gasped and automatically jumped back. The ends melded together and the semi-solid fibers tightened until Lor could barely move. “Detention chambers at the Conservatory neutralize Mystic energy. Engineers have tried for decades to create mobile chambers. A few of the larger ships have them now, but the Sentinel doesn’t generate enough power.”

  “Let him go.” She tried to sound commanding as color drained from Lor’s face.

  He struggled within the net, each twist slow and ineffective “I’m weak as a babe,” Lor reminded. “This isn’t a true test.” Even so, it held him securely until his eyes narrowed, his hands closed into tight fists and he incinerated the fibers with a burst of flame.

  Tori grinned. Go, Lor. Every time he commanded fire it made her feel warm and tingly inside.