Tuwa sat there in the forest, letting the night breeze roll over her skin for a short time. When she rose to her feet to begin the walk back to town, she was hit with a sudden flash in her mind’s eye. It was powerful enough that it nearly dropped her to her feet.
Images flashed through her head. Moving so rapidly that it was difficult to make any real sense of them. But as she saw them, she realized there was something wrong. And she knew she had to talk to Shift.
***
Tuwa looked around as she moved through Arcadia’s town square. The entire place was buzzing with talk of Sharkskin’s apparent murder of Zev. Some were worried that this meant Vanguard was coming to destroy the town. The Exemplar had worked to keep everyone calm, but they were calling for the blood of a murderer.
Shift had stayed inside her quarters since Sharkskin’s arrest, refusing to come out for anything. But if what Tuwa suspected was true, she would need help. She walked up to the door and knocked on it.
“Go away.”
She leaned against the door. “It’s Tuwa. Please let me in. I have to talk to you.”
The door opened and Shift’s face was contorted with rage. “What? Here to accuse me of spying on you? Maybe you want to call me Cerberus’ dog? Whatever the insult, get it out of the way so I can go back inside.”
Tuwa pulled Shift inside and closed the door behind them. Shift eyed her carefully, stretching out her fingers in case she needed to transform at a moment’s notice. Tuwa noticed Shift’s actions and held up her hand.
“I’m not here to fight you.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I want to help you and Sharkskin get out of here.”
Shift’s muscles loosened and her posture relaxed. Her face went from anger to relief. “You believe he’s innocent?”
Tuwa nodded.
“Why? Fenris is one of you, but we’re strangers.”
“I do more than just manipulate the earth. I communicate with it. The plants, the trees, the soil—they’re my eyes and ears across this entire island.”
Shift paused, trying to take this all in. She sat down on the couch. “Wait, you’re saying the island talks to you?”
Tuwa gave a nod and sat beside Shift. “In a sense. But it’s not a conversation like we’re having. Nature has a language all its own.”
“How does it work?”
Tuwa looked down at her hands resting in her lap. “It’s…difficult to explain. They show me flashes. Impressions. It can be difficult to sort through and I don’t know exactly what it all means.” She looked into Shift’s eyes. “But I’m sure of one thing—Fenris isn’t telling the whole story.”
“There’s no way Koji would kill anyone,” said Shift. “Not in a million years. He may look scary when he’s transformed, but he’s like a teddy bear.”
“I believe you. And I know that Fenris is full of rage, looking for an excuse to let it out.”
“So what do we do?”
Tuwa sighed. “That’s where it gets complicated. There’s a man here called Animus, he’s an empath. He tells Callum about how the people in Arcadia are feeling. But I think it’s more than that.”
“How do you mean?” asked Shift.
“I think he can…I don’t know…push people’s emotions in one direction or another. And I think he wants to see your friend strung up.”
“So you’re saying we can’t handle this diplomatically.”
“Exactly. We have to free Sharkskin and get the two of you out of Arcadia.”
CHAPTER 9
Deep inland, far from the town, was a series of caves snaking through the mountains of the island. It was this place that had been set aside as a makeshift prison for any who broke the laws of Arcadia. But there had never been a reason to use them yet.
Until now.
Tuwa led Shift through the forests surrounding the mountains and into the mouth of the large cave. Tuwa held a large flashlight in her hand that she used to guide their path.
“This is how you guys treat your prisoners? Lock them up in the dark?” asked Shift.
“Don’t be so quick to judge,” said Tuwa. “In the months since we formed Arcadia, we’ve never had to use this place. Callum thought it better to cross that bridge when we came to it.”
Tuwa turned right at a junction. Shift stayed close behind her guide, her eyes darting around the massive tunnels hidden inside the caves. She could hear skittering in the darkness, probably whatever creatures on the island that had made these tunnels their home.
The changeling couldn’t help but think back to the Red Fist’s caves in Tora Bora and the cell she’d briefly been held in along with Sharkskin and Gunsmith. That was the second time they saw the Exemplar and he’d already been held there for months.
Definite similarities to this cave. She wondered how the Exemplar could even think of replicating those conditions for others to endure. Worse, even. The caves in Tora Bora at least had some amenities. More than she’d seen here.
Tuwa took her down a smaller tunnel that came to a dead end. There was another opening, but it was blocked by vertical stone bars. Shift saw something moving in the darkness past the bars and she went up to them.
“Koji?”
“Erin?”
Shift breathed a deep sigh of relief. It was Koji’s voice and he came up to the bars, in his Sharkskin form. He wrapped his hands around the bars and looked at her through the columns.
“What’re you doing here?” he asked. Then he spotted Tuwa and gritted his teeth. “And what’s she doing here? You know she’s the one who created these bars, right?”
Shift jerked her head in her companion’s direction, her eyes cold. “What?”
“I only did what I had to do,” said Tuwa. “It wasn’t until after we locked up Sharkskin that I started getting the flashes.”
“Flashes? What’s she talking about?”
Shift turned back to Sharkskin. “She can communicate with the island. Some sort of vision of Fenris framing you.”
Sharkskin’s grip on the bars tightened, his muscles straining against them. “I friggin’ knew it! I’m gonna tear his head off!”
“No, you’re not,” said Tuwa. “I’m going to get you and Shift out of here.”
Tuwa held out her hands and closed her eyes. An orange aura surrounded her hands and a rumbling sound followed. Sharkskin and Shift stepped back from the bars and they crumbled to dust, falling to the ground and leaving no barrier between them.
Sharkskin stepped out of the cell and Shift threw her arms around him in an embrace. He hugged her back, then broke the hold and looked at the woman who not only imprisoned him but had now liberated him.
“So what’s the plan?”
“We have to get you to the other side of the island, as far from Arcadia as possible,” said Tuwa.
The trio moved back through the tunnels, returning to the opening of the cave. Tuwa said nothing, leaving Shift and Sharkskin to talk amongst themselves as they moved.
“It was weird. Exemplar usually can’t shut up but the entire time he took me here, he barely said a word,” said Sharkskin.
“Tuwa says there’s another guy on the island, someone who might be manipulating him. Maybe Fenris, too.”
“What, like the Analyst?”
“Don’t think so. It’s not like mind control, right?”
Tuwa glanced over her shoulder. “I don’t think Animus’ powers work like that. More like influencing emotions.”
“So this Animus guy makes Fenris frame me for murder, then makes the Exemplar think I’m guilty. But what’s the point?”
“Some think it’s just a matter of time before the humans find Arcadia and come after us,” said Tuwa. “You’ve heard the Cerberus rumors, right?”
“Yeah, saw some stuff online about them targeting specials. But nothing confirmed,” said Shift.
“We hear the rumors, too. Mostly from newcomers. Some have claimed to escape Cerberus agents. The way Vanguard disappeared
just before Cerberus came on the scene made some think you were the first targets. But there were other rumors that Vanguard might be working with Cerberus. When we saw you two arrive, that’s what some people thought.”
“That’s not even close to what’s going on,” said Shift. “Vanguard broke up and when I found out about Arcadia, I wanted to have a look at it. See what it’s like being around other people like us, not having to hide who I really am.”
“And now we’re running around in caves trying to escape,” said Tuwa. “Ironic.”
“Oh trust me, it hasn’t escaped my notice,” said Shift.
“How exactly are we going to get off the island?” asked Sharkskin. “The Ferryman brings everyone here, right?”
“One thing at a time,” said Tuwa. “First I have to get you out of harm’s way. After that, I’ll talk to the Ferryman. I think I can get him to take you home.”
“You sure? Doesn’t look like the sympathetic type.”
“He’s a good man, appearances aside,” said Tuwa. “If I can convince him of my suspicions about Animus, he’ll help us.”
As they approached the mouth of the cave, Sharkskin suddenly pushed both Shift and Tuwa with such force that they were thrown away from the entrance. He jumped after them, just moments before a massive energy blast struck the ground at the entrance.
“We’re not alone,” he said.
The Exemplar hovered into their view, his hands glowing brightly with energy. He narrowed his eyes at the three specials.
“Tuwa. I think we should have a talk.”
CHAPTER 10
In a burst of speed, the Exemplar shot at Sharkskin like a bullet. The changeling stood his ground, bracing himself and digging in his heels as his enemy collided with him. The force sent a small shockwave that threw both Shift and Tuwa from their feet.
Sharkskin was the first up and he jumped at the Exemplar. But the Exemplar recovered, turning just as Sharkskin descended upon him, and threw out an energy blast from his hands at point-blank range, powerful enough to slam Sharkskin into the cave’s ceiling.
Tuwa sat up on her knees and her hands hovered over the ground. Orange energy streamed from her fingertips and into the earth. She closed her eyes, allowing her powers to work through the ground.
The area rumbled and shook with small tremors. The Exemplar hovered above the ground to avoid the quakes, but then vines broke through the newly-formed cracks and snaked up, wrapping around his arms and legs and holding him in place.
“What are you doing, Tuwa?” he said. “We agreed we’d be a nation of laws! No special treatment!”
“And you aren’t paying attention to what’s really going on here!” she said. “So maybe this will get you to calm down.”
The Exemplar strained hard against the vines and Tuwa nearly collapsed like she’d been struck hard. His strength was nearly impossible to contain, but she fought on, struggling to keep him still. He pulled on his bonds, tearing one of his arms free and then the other.
The feeling of the vines breaking made Tuwa cringe. The energy from her hands weakened and she fought to try and maintain the flow. The Exemplar directed energy blasts at the vines at his feet, vaporizing them and letting him free.
Sharkskin barreled into him, tackling the Exemplar and the two men rolled out of the cave. As they tumbled, Sharkskin threw the Exemplar into one of the trees. He knocked it down as he struck it, flying through a few more before coming to a stop on the ground.
“Sharkskin!”
Koji stopped and turned around at the sound of his name. He saw shift running towards him. Her arm stretched out, elongating until her hand came within his grasp. He knowingly smiled at what she had planned, a technique they’d only begun practicing at Atlas before the team was shut down.
Sharkskin grabbed her hand and pulled her forward with all his strength. Shift’s arm snapped back like a rubber band as Sharkskin threw her, sending her off at the Exemplar. She clasped her hands together and they grew larger, almost to the size of her entire body, and she brought them crashing down on the Exemplar’s head.
He was disoriented at least and that was the opportunity they needed. Shift’s arms and legs flattened and stretched, binding Exemplar in her grasp. He struggled against her but couldn’t break free by the time Sharkskin came within range and battered his head with strong blows.
Sharkskin picked up a new scent and turned to react, but it was just a fraction too slow. Claws tore across his chest and were gone almost as quickly. Then another slash at his back and a third on his chest.
Shift could only watch as Sharkskin was battered by seemingly invisible opponents. But as Sharkskin nearly collapsed on the ground from the pain, his attackers finally slowed, surrounding him.
“The Pack,” she whispered.
“You think we’d let you get away with killing our brother?” Fenris used his foot to turn Sharkskin on his back and he placed a foot on his chest. He held up his claws, ready to strike.
The ground rumbled again and the Pack struggled to maintain their balance. Sharkskin got to his feet and grabbed Rollo’s arm, swinging him into Dolph. He turned next to Fenris, striking fast with his own claws and leaving deep gashes that left Fenris’ fur matted with blood.
The tremors Tuwa caused had the unintended consequence of Shift’s grip loosening and the Exemplar pried her off his body, throwing her into Sharkskin just as he was about to deliver another blow against Fenris.
The Exemplar spied Tuwa, who stood at the mouth of the cave, bracing herself against the stones, still weak from the last bout. He stopped as he approached her, hovering right behind her. She could see the anger plain on his face.
“You betrayed me!” he spat and reached out, wrapping his fingers around her throat and raising her so she was looking down at him. “You’re no different from her!”
“C-Cal…don’t…” she pleaded, trying to focus on his blue eyes.
The Exemplar squeezed tighter, ready to keep squeezing until her eyes popped out.
“A-Animus…”
The Exemplar paused and stared at her, his grip on her experiencing some slack. “What are you saying? You think you can save yourself by accusing one of my friends?”
Shift looked up at Sharkskin, who sniffed the air. He nodded, giving confirmation that there was someone else in the area. With a clawed finger, he pointed at the ridge above the cave’s opening. Shift nodded and jumped at Sharkskin, who gave her an added boost, throwing her up there.
When she reached the ridge, her fingers formed into hooks that she dug into the side of the rock. Shift pulled herself up and behind the rock was another man. The bald man turned at her and was about to use his abilities, but Shift threw a punch that knocked him from his feet.
The Exemplar shut his eyes at the exact instant Shift broke Animus’ concentration. He cringed, as if he’d just experienced a sudden migraine and lowered Tuwa to the ground. When he opened his eyes and saw her, he seemed almost surprised she was there.
“Tuwa? My god, what was I—”
He flew up to the ridge and grabbed Animus, hurling him at Fenris and the rest of the Pack. The Exemplar moved closer to them, his hands glowing brightly and he was ready to destroy all four of them with a wave.
“Care to tell me what’s been going on here, Animus?” he asked.
Shift dropped down from the ridge and helped Tuwa. She helped her move closer to the action. “Animus was behind you almost killing Tuwa. And he’s been manipulating emotions against us ever since we arrived.”
“She doesn’t know what she’s saying,” said Animus, his eyes beginning to glow. “You know I’m just trying to help you do what’s best for Arcadia.”
Sharkskin was about to move against Animus, but Dolph and Rollo both jumped in front of him—their backs to Sharkskin and they faced Animus and Fenris. Dolph grabbed the former leader of the Pack and shoved him against a tree.
“Something I hadn’t noticed before,” said Dolph. “Zev’s scent is nowher
e on Sharkskin. But it’s all over you, Fenris.”
“There’s only one thing to do here,” said the Exemplar, wrapping his fingers around Animus’ bald head. He began to squeeze.
“Stop!” Sharkskin grabbed the Exemplar’s throat.
“What are you doing?” he asked, glancing at Sharkskin out of the corner of his eyes. “I’m trying to make this right.”
“He’s right, Cal,” said Tuwa. “I thought Arcadia was going to be a place of law and order. I thought we were going to be better than the humans. But if you kill him like this, you’re just making up the laws as you go along.”
“It’ll make you no different from the man we fought in Chicago. No different from people like the Khagan,” said Shift. “Is that what you want? Or do you want to be someone better?”
The Exemplar considered the words, his fingers still tense against Animus’ skull. It would be so easy to just squeeze and crush this man’s head in his powerful grasp. And even though Sharkskin and Shift were stronger than when he’d fought them in Chicago, they still couldn’t beat him in a prolonged fight.
But when he looked at Tuwa standing there, braced by Shift, because of injuries he caused, he knew he had to be better. The Exemplar took his hand from Animus’ head and delivered a blow that knocked him unconscious. He then hovered over to Fenris, staring down at him.
“Both these men will be tried.” He looked over his shoulder at Tuwa and smiled at her. “In Arcadia, we serve the law.”
Tuwa grinned back at him and nodded.
CHAPTER 11
Koji knelt on the hill overlooking the town of Arcadia. His eyes followed the landscape stretching out until it met the ocean. A shadow fell over him and he craned his neck around to see Erin standing above him, also enjoying the same view as him.
“Wish we had a view like this in Madison,” she said.
Koji stood. “You could always move to Hawaii.”
“Or you could stay here.”
Vanguard: The Complete Second Season: A Superhero Serial (Vanguard: The Collected Seasons Book 2) Page 8