Nonetheless, I didn’t have the time to indulge in the moment.
Melanie arrived at a run and pushed the both of us down the tunnel. “Quit the lover’s spat and start moving. We’ve got company and you need to get to your sister ASAP!”
I looked behind Melanie in the direction where the tunnel inclined a few degrees. A heartbeat later I felt a vague vibration under my feet, then heard a deep rumble that grew louder by the moment. Blue-white pinpricks of light shone brightly in the distance. They were tiny but growing swiftly.
Melanie was right – vehicles were on their way, probably heavily armored personnel carriers.
I cursed softly under my breath and Melanie began hurrying us along in earnest.
“Come on, come on,” she repeated as she pushed at us.
With Simone’s hand in mine, we quickly broke into a run, but it was unlikely we’d stay ahead of the approaching carriers for long. The tunnel walls offered no place to hide and no way out.
After running for a minute or so, Melanie suddenly skidded to a halt.
“Caelum, Alucard, keep going. I’ll deal with the personnel carriers.”
Simone and I both slowed down, but Melanie waved insistently down the tunnel. “Hurry up. You have to get to Celica. Hurry, Caelum.”
Behind us the vehicles were clearly visible, and it wasn’t long before we heard the sounds of a blaring megaphone.
“You there, stop immediately. I repeat, stop immediately.”
At that moment, Melanie’s eyes met mine, and I felt a jolt run through me as I understood she was serious about stopping the convoy.
“Melanie—”
“Go, Caelum.” She smiled tightly at me. “I promise, I’ll be fine.”
I wanted to believe her, but I didn’t feel I could.
Even if she possessed a Valkyrie Armor, how was she expecting to stop the oncoming platoon?
Melanie turned away and walked up the tunnel a few meters, taking a spot in the middle.
I was gripped by indecision, though I knew it was foolish to contemplate helping her.
I didn’t have a Fragment or Artifact.
There really was nothing I could do. If I tried to help, I’d just get in the way.
I tightened my grip on Simone’s hand, and resumed running down the tunnel with the Countess at my side. As I did, a familiar cold nipped at me and I realized a Fragment or Artifact had been summoned. Glancing over my shoulder as I ran, I witnessed an amazing sight.
The black mist surrounding Melanie faded, dissipating into the air like smoke. The girl was left standing clad in a fantastical, sleek armor that gave her an extra three feet of height courtesy of long, narrow, tapered legs that merged with her legs above the knees. To either side of her floated three downward pointing wings that reminded me of a cloak cut lengthwise in half. But most surprising was the color of the wings and Melanie’s skinsuit-like armor. It was a combination of varying pinks, purples, blacks and gold that looked oddly fitting.
I realized I was seeing Melanie clad in a fully manifested Valkyrie Armor.
This was its Valkyrie Maiden form.
I couldn’t help slowing to a stop. I pulled Simone to a halt beside me, as I looked back up the tunnel.
Beside me, the Countess gasped in shock.
The four rumbling personnel carriers skidded to rest as they fanned out before Melanie who now stood – or floated – in the middle of the tunnel. Almost immediately a squad of soldiers wearing armor-skins emerged from two of the vehicles and spread out to cover Melanie.
The soldier standing through the roof hatch of the lead vehicle raised his megaphone.
“Stand down and withdraw your armor. I repeat, stand down and withdraw your armor. If you do not we’ll be forced to—”
Melanie moved.
In the blink of an eye she was airborne, flying a foot off the ground directly at the parked carriers.
I overclocked, and watched in quarter time as Melanie Cardwell, the ace of Galatea Academy’s swim team, met the vehicles and soldiers of Special Interventions head on.
Even though Simone and I stood at a distance, we both felt the air harden as Melanie’s Valkyrie Armor – or Valkyrie Maiden – generated an immensely strong barrier-field that knocked the lead carrier over onto its roof. The megaphone wielding soldier was flung clear of the vehicle, landing many meters away while the carrier tumbled over and crashed into the tunnel wall. It rocked like a turtle on its back as Melanie landed beside it. In a heartbeat she launched herself at the second personnel carrier. With the leg of a Valkyrie Maiden, she struck the eight-wheeled machine, and tossed the heavy carrier against its companion a dozen meters behind it.
The sounds of crunching, scraping metal reached our ears.
The two carriers rocked wildly, with one of them coming to rest on its side.
By now the soldiers had sprung into action.
They scattered while opening fire on Melanie. Armor piercing rounds peppered the air and tunnel walls, powdering the permacrete into billowing clouds.
I grabbed Simone and began retreating quickly down the tunnel. I pushed her ahead of me, as I had nothing but my body to protect her from a stray round.
We ran with the sounds of shouting and gunfire behind us.
It seemed to last forever, and when I looked back over my shoulder, I saw Melanie darting between the soldiers and vehicles, her Valkyrie Maiden bathed in gunfire as she sliced at man and machine with a sword that was almost as long as she was tall.
Only two of the carriers remained functional. Their gun turrets swiveled and blazed at Melanie, but they merely succeeded in cutting down their own soldiers.
I focused on running but the urge to look back overcame me.
I turned in time to see Melanie charge at a third carrier.
She leapt a handful of feet into the air, swung her sword smoothly, and sliced through the nose of the armored vehicle. Sparks and smoke belched into the air. She delivered a second scything cut when a violet flash of light cast Melanie and the vehicle into stark relief.
A heartbeat later the carrier exploded.
Melanie vanished in a ball of flame and reddish black smoke that completely filled the breadth and height of the tunnel.
I didn’t understand what had happened.
Had she hit a fuel cell or something?
Then I realized the fourth carrier, which was the vehicle most rearward, had fired a roof mounted warhead at the carrier Melanie was busy slicing apart.
The massive explosive shockwave caught up with us, and knocked Simone and I to the ground as a searing wave of heat rolled over us. The air grew hot, making it painful to breathe.
For a long while I just lay on the permacrete ground beside Simone, finding it hard to comprehend what I’d just witnessed.
The Special Interventions platoon had sacrificed its soldiers in an effort to subdue and defeat Melanie.
Was that dedication, or desperation?
Regardless, I couldn’t afford to remain lying on the ground. As the air cooled a little, I pushed myself up onto my hands and knees, and crawled over to Simone. The Countess was unharmed but looked dazed. I helped her to her knees, then turned to look back up the tunnel.
The smoke and fire wasn’t clearing, obscuring the tunnel and personnel carriers from view.
I didn’t know if Melanie had survived the massive detonation but other than the flames and smoke there was no sign of movement.
I certainly didn’t think the soldiers had lived through that, despite their protective armor-skins.
The carrier had been loaded with munitions which made the explosion immensely powerful.
I started to gather my legs under me, tempted to run toward the flaming conflagration when Simone suddenly pulled on my arm.
“Caelum, don’t leave me.”
I stopped and stared at her, remembering my promise to her, then glanced at the scene of destruction behind us.
As much as I regretted leaving Melanie behind, I reali
zed I had no choice. Without a Fragment of my own I was helpless to protect Simone, let alone search for Melanie in that flaming Hell.
Taking a deep breathe, and tasting the acrid smoke in the air, I gave Simone a single nod, and then helped her to her feet.
I took hold of Simone’s hand and resumed running once more, mindful that the Countess was barefoot.
I threw a glance over my shoulder, but didn’t stop or slow down.
The fire continued unabated, and the smoke spread unchallenged down the length of the tunnel. It didn’t appear as though fire suppression systems had been installed. That wasn’t good. The fire would consume precious oxygen. As large as the habitat was, it was miniscule in comparison to a planet.
Simone abruptly grabbed my arm with her free hand and pulled me to a harsh stop that almost sent us tumbling. She was breathing hard and struggling for air. “Caelum…let’s…go back….”
I looked at her in surprise, and studied her face for a short while as she slowly recovered her breath.
Simone looked scared, really scared, and it pained my chest.
But I shook my head slowly. “Simone, we can’t go back. The fire and smoke have blocked off our exit. I wouldn’t be surprised if the tunnel’s been compromised.”
Fear was making her insistent. “Maybe there’s another way out? We haven’t really looked. We’ve just been running all this time.”
I felt my face harden.
Melanie had fought the soldiers in order to give me a chance to reunite with Celica. I wasn’t going to let her efforts to go waste, not when I thought she may have sacrificed her life in that explosion.
I just couldn’t go back, and so I shook my head again. “I’m not going to look for another way out.”
“Caelum—”
“If my sister is down there, I need to see her. I have to see her. I won’t lose the chance Melanie gave me.”
Simone’s lips moved but she made no sound. Through her grip on my arm, I felt her tremble slightly.
I leaned toward her. “She’s important to me, Simone. She’s my sister.”
I realized I was trembling too, but not from fear. If asked I wouldn’t have been able to explain what I was feeling. It was a mixture of so many feelings – anger, anxiety, depression, regret, hope. It was all a big mix that now simmered in the cauldron of my chest.
Simone swallowed and I saw the fear and indecision cycle across her face.
Then she squeezed her eyes shut for a long moment, and I felt her tremble strongly for a heartbeat before her body relaxed.
When she opened her eyes, her gaze was steady, though I read the uncertainty behind them.
“Okay,” she whispered. “We go forward…together.”
I nodded faintly, but it didn’t feel that was enough so I pulled her close and embraced her tightly.
“It’ll be fine,” I whispered into her ear. “I won’t let anyone harm you. I’ll keep you safe. I promise….”
Her arms wrapped around my back and I felt her nod against my shoulder.
Even as I held Simone, feeling her warmth spread through my chest and body, I silently offered a prayer for Melanie’s safety.
I felt woefully helpless.
Now more than ever, I sorely wished I had my Gauntlet with me.
I offered a second prayer to the gods above, praying I wouldn’t encounter a need to use the Artifact.
I didn’t know if they heard me or not, but I couldn’t afford to wait for an answer.
Releasing Simone from the embrace, I took hold of her right hand once again.
This time I resolved not to look behind us as we resumed running down the tunnel, away from the fire and wreckage of the personnel carriers, and away from Melanie.
Chapter 22 – Brahmastra.
(Caprice)
Constance spoke to us through our linked Fragments.
I heard her voice in my head.
*Internal security is down. The holocams and security sensors have been disabled. We have no idea where those Familiars from Crimson Crescent went.
We had arrived at the cafeteria. At sight of us the students began to cry out. Some asked for help, others pleaded not to be hurt. But amongst their voices I heard a girl clearly call out to me.
Haruka Amiella.
She was lying supine on the ground. That tall senior I knew as Duncan Armand was lying beside her. I recognized Siobhan and Alistair nearby on the floor beside the table they must have all been sharing.
I hurried over to Haruka, and she told me what had happened only a few minutes ago.
Through the transparent atrium ceiling, I could see the dark prow of the massive starship that floated above Galatea Academy. I relayed Haruka’s story to Constance via the Fragment Link.
Now we waited inside the cafeteria, uncertain of our next move, and unable to help anyone.
I had helped Haruka up while she was within the confines of my effect-field, but it was only a temporary respite for her and Duncan Armand.
I asked, *Constance, has Severin found from where the hacker breached the network? And what about that girl they took? We can’t let them leave with her.
Maya cut in smoothly. *Calm down, Caprice. We’re not going to let them get away with anything, let alone taking students like spoils of war.
*They’re acting like pirates, Jaxon muttered.
I noticed the look Haruka was giving me. She was frowning at me.
“Caprice,” she asked hesitantly, “are you talking to someone...with telepathy?”
I thought I’d been keeping my expression flat.
Looks like I was wrong.
I shook my head tightly. “No, I’m not talking to anyone via telepathy.”
*Alright, listen up, Constance interrupted. *Severin’s nerds have got a possible location—the school library.
Maya asked, *Is that the middle school or high school library?
*High school library.
*Good, then let’s move.
*Wait, wait, wait! Constance yelled out. *Those guys have a ten minute head start. Are you just going to waltz in there?
Maya sounded thoughtful. *Why not have the Enforcers from Special Interventions go in first. Can Severin tell them where to go?
*Seems they already know where to go, Constance replied. *Ah, Hell. There’s a fight in the library. No! The books are burning! Ah, damn it, the fire suppression system kicked in. Now we can’t see a bloody thing!
I caught sight of Maya moving quickly toward the east side of the cafeteria.
*Let’s hurry, she called out.
I looked down at Haruka. “Sorry, I have to go. This is going to hurt a little.”
Rina suddenly called out to all of us. *Wait! We can’t leave them like this. They’re barely staying conscious under so much weight. It’s six point seven gees inside this building alone.
*We don’t have time for them, Maya retorted.
Rina refused to give up. *At least let me take down the gravity generators.
Maya stopped walking, then spun round to face the girl. *How?
I watched Rina raise her gun-blade. The black mist that usually preceded a Fragment’s appearance and disappearance surrounded it. When the mist faded, the gun-blade was more like cannon-blade. However, Rina had no trouble holding it up for Maya and the rest of us to see.
*Won’t you let me try? she asked.
Maya debated yay or nay for a few seconds. *Constance, can Severin tell Rina where the effect-field generators are for the school cafeteria?
*Yeah, I think so.
*Rina wants to shoot them with her Fragment cannon.
I looked at Maya. *Do you want us to go ahead?
Maya shook her head. *No, we stay together.
We had to wait for Severin to give Rina the location of the nearest generator. Constance said it was straight down the middle of the atrium, buried around ten feet under the ground floor.
Rina walked to the balcony and lifted the cannon over the railing. She took aim at the fl
oor three levels below.
*Rina, what about the students on the ground floor?
*The closest one is twenty seven feet away. That’s good enough. Don’t worry. I won’t hit them.
Motes of light began to dance around the tip of the tapered barrel. The weapon looked like something that belonged on a tank, not in the arms of slender girl dressed in a school uniform.
But Rina’s arms were steady, and when she fired, the beam of light would have burned my eyes had I not looked away.
A loud screech filled the air and a heartbeat later a boom resounded throughout the interior of the cafeteria. The floor shook with the strength of a small quake. Students screamed and cried out, but Rina ignored them. The particles of light dance again around the barrel, and she fired a second shot at the floor. This time the boom was quieter and the ground shook a little less. Then I heard a second explosion, and felt a shockwave ran through the cafeteria. The air shimmered as it raced by. It brushed my barrier-field with enough force to make me stagger.
I noticed quickly the pressure on my barrier-field had eased. The simulated gravity generated by the effect-field emitters buried under the cafeteria must have dropped in output.
Some of the students were looking around slowly, and some were even struggling to sit up.
*That’s one, Rina reported. *But I need to go outside to snipe the second and third generators that are buried in the north and south courtyards.
Maya asked, *What’s the gravity down to?
*Around four point four gees.
Rina started walking along the circular length of the cafeteria level, heading for the south side of the building.
*Rina, where are you going? Maya asked.
*Maybe I can snipe the south generator in the courtyard from the window. I won’t need to head outside.
Maya complained. *We don’t have time for this. That shot is going to alert Crescent’s team. And that starship is watching is from overhead.
*Just one more shot, Maya, Rina stated.
*Rina, I’m ordering you to stand down. Follow my orders.
The girl was walking toward me so I had no choice but to block her way.
*Rina wait a moment, I said, then looked at Maya. *You and Jaxon go ahead. I’ll stay with her. We’ll catch up after this last shot.
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