by Adam Thielen
Matthias saw the car in the distance with the fiend running toward it. He let off the gas and turned slightly, setting the van on a course to pass it. He opened the door, stepped onto the window edge, and climbed onto the van’s roof. He crouched down and launched himself into the air.
Winter ignored Taq’s motionless body as he ran toward the vehicle. He leapt, pulling his legs up and forward. His body slid through the window opening and onto the passenger seat. Kate screamed.
Matthias pulled his knees to his chest as he descended, then kicked downward explosively as he landed on the roof of the car, collapsing the metal on top of the fiend. He dismounted and ripped open the passenger side door, then hanging loosely on its hinges. Tossing it aside, he then grabbed Winter’s leg, yanked him out of the car, and flung him away from the vehicle. The monster rolled to a stop on the dirt.
Winter stood up and hissed. His demeanor changed as some of his feralness seemed to fade. Then, for the first time, he spoke, “Why won’t you leave me alone? I’ve done nothing to you!”
“You know what you are,” Matthias replied. “You have to die.”
“I will not die!” the creature hissed. “And you will not escape this time.”
Taq had opened his eyes. Kate stood behind the car with a handgun at the fiend. He heard faint footsteps and turned to see Tamra limping toward him.
“Look around, Winter,” said Matthias. “It’s over.”
The fiend let out a roar and began casting a spell. Tamra ran toward him as her polonium lit up. She threw her palm forward, and a bolt of lightning traveled from her arm and connected to the fiend’s back. He roared in pain and stopped casting to swing wildly behind him. Tamra attempted to block the blow with her forearms, but his strength sent her reeling. Winter heard the sound of a blade whirring through the air. With lightning reflexes, Winter ducked underneath as he pivoted to face Matthias. He swung with his claws extended. Matthias moved his hips back to avoid.
The fiend was fast. He grabbed the hand that held the blade and struck at the vampire enforcer with his right hand. Matthias avoided the blow by turning to the side. The fiend swung again, but Matthias grabbed his wrist. Winter tried to yank his arm free, his eyes widening when he could not. He jumped up and flung both feet into Matthias’s chest, separating them violently.
Matthias slammed against the crumpled side of the car while Winter landed on his back, rolling to his feet. The fiend began arcane motions but was interrupted with several bullets into his chest, as Kate squeezed the trigger as fast as she could. The fiend was pushed backward, but kept his footing.
Matthias swung his blade at a dazed Winter, who instinctively held up his hand to protect himself. The sword sliced through his palm, removing most of his right hand. He howled, then lunged forward with his left hand swinging. Matthias ducked underneath and twirled the blade in an overhead arc, removing Winter’s arm at the elbow.
The fiend stood there for a moment, staring at his new stump. He hissed at Matthias in defiance. Matthias feinted a swing, and Winter tried to duck. Matthias brought his knee upward, squarely into Winter’s face. His body flung upright in response. Matthias swung a horizontal arc across the fiend’s neck. His head spun a few times in mid-air before landing. The body fell backward; blood pouring from the neck with a rhythmic pulse.
Kate helped Taq to his feet, and the four of them gathered over the body. It convulsed for a moment, then twitched a few times, then was still.
“What now?” asked Kate
“I was planning on filling it with silver and burning it,” Matthias said. “But it looks pretty dead already.”
“Better safe than sorry,” said Tamra. “I’m Tamra, by the way. Nice to meet you.”
Matthias shook her hand. “A warden, right? Thanks for the help.”
He looked around at the others. “Right. Well, I think that about wraps this up. Let’s get some silver bearings from the van and roast this bird.”
Matthias climbed into the back of the van and heard the sound of a helicopter in the distance. He grabbed a pack of bearings and a small can of syntholeum accelerant and hopped back out to take a look. The chopper was headed in their direction. It was black and it appeared to have no official markings.
“Kate, who’s in that thing?” he asked.
“There’s radio silence,” she closed her eyes and searched for similar helicopters, approved flight plans in the area, and air traffic control communications. “It’s corporate. Not sure which one.”
“Everyone take cover just in case,” Matthias ordered. Tamra went back into the blown out house, while Kate walked Taq behind a small brick building. Matthias ducked behind the wrecked car and waited for the helicopter to land.
After it touched down, three men with assault rifles scrambled out of the chopper. Frank departed after. Matthias was relieved and puzzled. Behind Frank came a thick man in a suit. Frank started waving his arms in the air.
“It’s alright guys. Come on, Matthias, get the fuck over here!”
Matthias popped up from behind the car and held up one hand, to try to signal the others to stay put. He walked up to Frank. “What is all this? Suddenly it’s okay to get other people involved?”
“Not exactly, Matty. The council, big A, and the Chicago U are all laying claim to this thing’s remains. Don’t even ask me why Grapeseed thinks it has anything to do with this, but their intel is scary, and they can do whatever the fuck they want,” explained Frank. “As far as the council’s concerned, it’s okay to let people see a dead body, just not a live one turning people into zombies and casting hellfire.”
“The remains? Are you out of your fucking mind?” Frank held up his hand to try to quiet Matthias, without success. “We don’t even know if it’s really dead or not yet.”
“This is the deal the council made with Grapeseed, Matthias. We don’t make decisions, we follow them. You did good, and you made me look good,” Frank put his hand on Matthias’s shoulder. “Jesus, when’d you get so big? And smelly?”
“This is ridiculous,” he replied. “I’m putting my team in the van and we are leaving before your new friends decide we are loose ends.”
Frank nodded, “Yeah, talk later.”
Matthias turned to look at the armed men, now kneeling next to Winter’s body, then back at Frank. “What do they want it for? You know what, you probably don’t know, and I don’t want to.” He shook his head as he walked away.
Matthias stepped into the van, which had crashed into one of the houses and had a crushed bumper and grill. Despite the damage, it started. He watched as the armed men lifted the body of the fiend onto a stretcher, bagging the head, arm, and hand. Taq and Kate entered the van through the side, and Tamra took a seat beside Matthias.
The man in a suit, likely some sort of Grapeseed executive, stared after the van as it left the scene. Matthias saw him talking with Frank. He shook his head again.
“Am I the only one who doesn’t like this?” asked Tamra while massaging her sternum and examining several wet blood spots on her clothing.
“I like it less than you, but I wasn’t about to start another fight if I didn’t have to,” Matthias said. “I should get us all to a hospital.”
“What about the safe house?” asked Kate.
“It got trashed by some of those zombie things. I don’t trust taking any of you there now.”
“Because of more thralls?” asked Kate.
“Because of a lot of things,” the vampire replied.
“Great,” said Tamra.
Taq sat silently, staring at the floor of the van, his eyes listless. The others followed suit for the rest of the journey. Matthias pulled the van into a hospital parking lot. After Taq and Tamra had been assigned rooms, Matthias joined Kate in the waiting room, where she stood facing out of a large picture window.
“Thank you,” she said to him as he approached.
“For what?”
“Oh, I thought you had just sent it,” she said, turning
toward him. “I’ve received payment for services rendered. More than what was agreed to, actually.”
“No, I didn’t have anything to do with that,” he said. “But, well… good.” Matthias’s eyes were drawn to red scrapes that decorated Kate’s arms. He turned to face the window.
“Listen Kate, I don’t want to get the others involved in this. Actually I don’t want anyone involved in this anymore, but I need to know who those people were and what they want with that body,” he explained.
“Why not just let it go?” It was a request more than a question.
“Few seem to understand the danger we were in.”
“Were in, right? It’s dead,” she countered.
Matthias leaned close to her. “It’s too important to just let go. I don’t know anyone who can do what you do.”
She turned her head away. “Gods, you reek. I’m sorry, just back up a bit.” She put her hand out as if to push him back.
Matthias complied. Kate sighed. “I’ll see what I can do, but my fee has changed.”
“I don’t even know what they paid you this time,” Matthias said.
“A lot,” she said. “I don’t want money though, I want something else. Something harder than money.”
“Nothing is harder than money,” he countered.
“Then I need Taq out of the University.”
“I stand corrected.” Matthias’s eyebrows perked up as he crossed his arms.
“Now that is an interestingly impossible request. Why would you want something like that?” he asked. “Are you two…”
“Not yet,” she smirked.
“I would think with your skills, you could get him out a lot easier than I can,” he shrugged.
“Maybe, but it would be difficult. Without any cover provided by the council or other entities that tend to employ me, I would be putting myself in danger. Besides, I want this to be legitimate, or as legit as it can be,” Kate sighed.
“You aren’t going to tell me what this is about, are you?”
“I just need him out, and I can give you exactly what you need,” she stated.
“It doesn’t matter anyway. He’s got at least two years until he qualifies for corporate transfer, and that’s being optimistic. It can’t be done,” Matthias shook his head for emphasis.
“Anything is possible. At least try to find a way. I’ll know when it’s done,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s been an adventure. Take a shower before you kill someone.”
Matthias put out his hand and Kate shook it.
* * *
Matthias left the hospital without checking on Taq and Tamra. He knew they would be fine, and he hated the awkwardness of goodbyes. At least that is what he told himself. He got into the van and headed back to town where his apartment waited. The fiend-slayer placed a call from the vehicle’s com. Frank answered.
“I’m headed back to town, Frank,” he said.
“Good. Get cleaned up, we still have work to do,” Frank replied.
“No more violence, I hope.”
“Worse,” Frank began. “We have to go see the council.”
“We?” Matthias groaned loudly.
“That’s right!” Frank said with feigned excitement. “Our job is to make you out to be a hero. Maybe both of us if there’s room for it.”
“This sounds awful. They are just as likely to can my ass rather than buy your— our bullshit,” Matthias argued.
“Then put your game face on: this is our one shot to come out of this ahead.”
“I better get a raise and a vacation,” said Matthias. Frank chuckled and disconnected.
* * *
Taq and Tamra sat on one side of a long rectangular table with rounded corners. On the other side were several university officials as well as Mr. Rafir and Ms. Smith.
“In summary, Noxcorp’s review of your cooperation in apprehending a rogue mage is nothing less than glowing. While I wish there were more details, and while I feel your previous behaviors are something to be considered in any release reviews, I am nonetheless impressed,” stated Rafir, as he looked at Taq, then Tamra, then to the men and women on around him.
“And grateful,” added Ms. Smith.
“I’m sure Noxcorp is very grateful, yes,” said Rafir.
Taq nodded and smiled weakly.
“Tamra,” began Rafir. “We would like a report from you on what transpired and how Taq’s actions would reflect on the University.”
Tamra started to speak, but Ms. Smith beat her to it. “Generalities about Taq’s performance are fine, but I must insist we refrain from prying into details as part of our partnership with Noxcorp.”
“We are not children with secrets,” said the president. “Please be thorough.”
Ms. Smith turned to Mr. Rafir. “This really is not acceptable. We cannot pry into this; they’ve given us strict guidelines. We do have some leverage, but these are things we must ask of them directly.”
Rafir relented. “You are dismissed,” he said across the table.
“They aren’t going to let this go,” Tamra said as she drove her new university vehicle back to the dorms.
“Maybe they shouldn’t,” said Taq.
“Maybe,” she said. “Right now they know almost nothing, and I want it to stay that way.”
“Why?” Taq asked.
“Because I don’t want a target on my back, or yours.”
Episode 5: Horse Trading
“I wondered why a young handsome hero would ask me out to dinner,” the matronly woman across the simple wooden table sighed. It had been decades, at least, since anyone had made a pass at her. She was too seasoned to believe that this meeting was not going to involve a request of some sort.
Matthias smiled. Ms. Koch was no beauty, but she had a handsomeness and confident demeanor that drew out subtle emotions of fear and adoration. It did not hurt her presence that she was also the chairwoman of a powerful corporation.
“I imagine,” he started, trying to match her level of sophistication. “That you are not surprised often.”
She gave a brief chuckle, looking down at her glass of wine. Without looking up, “Oh, flattery. This is going to be good.” She lifted the glass for a short sip. “Do you realize you are practically a legend now?”
Matthias sat silent, unsure how to sound modest and yet eager for praise.
Ms. Koch leaned back into her chair, glass still in hand. “You are all anyone has talked about the last week. Tell me, how did you really kill it?”
Matthias shifted in his chair. “Teamwork. Luck. I tried to be thorough in the report.”
“Yes, your report,” she said, her hand now swirling the wine inside the glass. “I find it difficult to believe all of it, if I can be honest. Most of the council seems to dismiss the details as unimportant. I did too, until right now. I look at you, and I want to know.”
Matthias studied her face for a moment, searching. “Yes, at the end I overpowered him, or I matched him at least. I wasn’t lying.”
Koch stared into Matthias’s eyes and grinned.
They sat silent as the waiter approached to take their order. Matthias always wanted to dine in fancy restaurants, but had always found it an unforgivable expense. He stumbled through his selection of entree, soup, and salad. He made no attempts to hide his awkwardness.
The waiter left and silence resumed until Koch relented, “Well, I can’t take any more suspense. What can Noxcorp do for you, Matt?”
Matthias cleared his throat. “I need Taq freed.”
* * *
Days passed, and Taq exchanged messages with Kate. She was allowed to visit him on campus, but only came once, two days after the battle. She seemed withdrawn, distracted. Later she confided that she would be doing some traveling. Taq wanted to ask her to stay, to catch a film on campus, to go to dinner on campus, to play a new projected reality game. He thought of Annie and how trapping Kate with him in his small world wouldn’t end well for either of them.
Aft
er a few days of messages, she stopped replying. Taq understood his place and distracted himself with games and exercises, honed his casting abilities, and enjoyed the new attention he received. Most of the mages, and even most MESS officers were unaware of the details of the incident, but they knew he was involved in the fight. They knew he used magic, and that he cooperated with Noxcorp, and it was enough to make him the subject of the majority of campus conversation.
In the cafeteria, he noted the eyes upon him as he walked up to the line. He handed his tray over for processed chicken food product, then again for processed potato food product. He felt the stares around him but tried to walk as casually as possible to an empty table on a far side of the room. It was his table. He sat at it every day, facing the window.
Less than a minute after sitting, Julie sat in the chair on the left side of the table. Then Steven sat on the right, and finally Ross sat across from him. For a few moments, the three just sat there, glancing at each other, then at Taq. Taq himself continued to eat, unsure what else he could do.
* * *
At the age of nine, two full years before teachers would normally be on the lookout for an ethereal awakening, Taq manifested.
“Throw it, Taq!” Emily cried, referring to the water balloon he had been keeping at the ready. This was war, and impatience can be costly. Taq held onto the balloon, the last one left, waiting for his opportunity. His team, consisting of Emily, Eddie, and himself, was clearly soaked. Three kids from the next riser were the enemy, and they were well trained in water combat.
In the shade provided by neighboring scrapers, Taq darted behind trees that rose from round cutouts in the pavement, and hid behind concrete pillars. Never stop moving, he thought. He took a circuitous route to get behind his relatively dry prey. The four children who were unarmed yelled intelligence and counterintelligence, allowing Taq to get the drop.