Thornfalcon (The ARC Legacy Book 1)

by Matthew W. Harrill

  In the moments between the darkness coming and the guard's hesitant response, Samantha and her mother had hatched a simple plan. Push one of the freestanding bookshelves on top of him. Knock him out. They waited, barely breathing as he moved into the room.

  Rifle held in front of him, almost at arms' length, he took step after creeping step. Their luck held when he reached their chosen trap and turned away, so his back was to them. One thumb from Eva and they pushed, the combat suits making the task easy. The shelf, with so many heavy old books on it, crushed him underneath, a series of cracks indicating broken bones. As a bonus, his arm, gun still intact, stuck out to one side.

  “I think he's dead,” Eva said. “My gear can't detect any sign of a heartbeat. Take the gun.”

  “Eva?” Said a familiar voice over Samantha's radio. “Are you well? Not hurt?”

  “John? You've got one of these too? Who else can hear us?”

  “Never leave Hell without it,” Wolverton quipped.

  “Who else can hear us?”

  “Private radio network between the suits will keep us off the airwaves. What's your situation?”

  “Thorsten Guyomard's a traitor,” Samantha said. “Chateau d'Yvoire is under attack from Aeon Fall. He's got Io trapped down in the cellar we took him to. John, Thorsten's torturing him with Helltech. He's gonna kill him. They locked us in Nina's room and we blew the power. Can you help?”

  “Unfortunately not. Your trick blew everything and we're sealed in the council chamber. Most everything up here is powered by electronic locks. You're gonna have to reset the circuit breakers and come get us out.”

  “Well, we have a gun at least,” Eva replied. “John, other than the Council, we don't know who to trust, if anybody we find is loyal to ARC or not. Porter Rockwell is on his way here, now. He's bringing the angel Karael with him.”

  “Then hurry, ladies. And shoot first, or better, hide.”

  “One more thing,” added Samantha. “Keep an eye on Alexander Steadman. He might not be all he seems.”

  “Got it. I'll keep the channel open. Shout if you want moral support. I'll be listening. Chances are all the guards are locked away too. The only way into ARC will be through the tunnel and that takes them past the circuit breakers in the stairwell. Hurry!”

  * * *

  Samantha was first out into the hallway. There was no sign of the other guard. “Must be still down in the cellar,” she assumed.

  “Then hurry, Sammy. This place could already be crawling with Aeon Fall agents and they may well have the same gear we do, or better.”

  In moments they were at the doorway. Silence met them from below. Samantha leaned down and pulled out the plugs that had powered the lights in the cellar. “Better to be certain,” she whispered.

  Eva merely nodded. “Can you use one of those?”

  “We'll find out soon enough. Stay behind me, a quarter turn on the steps. One of us is enough of a target.” Hoping her mother listened to her advice, Samantha started down the stairs, her padded footwear falling silent on the stone, the rifle held tight to her core. She took slow, even breaths, willing herself to remain calm. Each step brought her closer to the potential reality that Io was already gone. She wasn't ready to accept such a fate and began to move faster down the spiral. Ahead of her, the blue glow of the Helltech Taser shone up the passageway for a moment before it moved away and left her in darkness with only the distant echoes of footsteps for company. The taser was being used as a light source. She became cautious.

  A whimpering echoed up from below. They were almost at the room. Io was still with them.

  “The glyphs,” a very frustrated Thorsten Guyomard demanded. “Give me the glyphs of all of your brethren. I'll take them all.”

  “N … no,” Io grunted.

  The blue light started once more. Far past screaming, Io merely groaned, his body twitching as he lay in the angel trap.

  Samantha scanned the room. The remaining fake guard moved into place beside Thorsten, perhaps attracted by the light from the Helltech. His rifle hung from his shoulder as he watched.

  She moved across the room behind them, waiting for the light to fade.

  When it did, the guard asked, “Shouldn't they be here by now?”

  “They are,” Thorsten replied. “They'll secure the grounds first, then the castle. The Council aren't going anywhere, and will spend all the time it takes The Master to get here trying to barter for the lives of the women.”

  Samantha heard enough. The muzzle flashed as she squeezed the trigger, dropping the guard in an instant.

  In no time Eva was on top of the fallen guard, removing his rifle.

  “What the?” Thorsten moved but Samantha was quicker, knocking the Taser from his hand with a violent swing of her weapon.

  Thorsten screamed in pain, holding his damaged hand. “You've broken my goddamned wrist. Who—?”

  Samantha shoved the muzzle of the rifle in his face, pushing into his cheek. “Be glad it's your wrist and not a bullet between your eyes, you traitorous son of a bitch.” Reversing the rifle, she clubbed Thorsten in the face as hard as she could manage with the butt. “Pull some of that lighting cable loose. Let's leave them here for John to deal with.”

  Eva yanked several metres of cable free and rolled Thorsten onto his front, winding the cable around his wrists. Samantha turned to Io. She pulled the Taser darts from his chest and threw them aside. “Io, can you hear me?”

  “That is not a pleasant man,” Io groaned, trying to sit up. “Can you get me out of here?”

  Samantha scuffed at the edge of the trap with the butt of the rifle until the outer lines had been completely erased on one segment of the circle. “Enough?”

  “Help me up,” Io asked, reaching out.

  Samantha took his hand and attempted to pull him up. Nothing happened. “Dear God, Io. It's like trying to lift a mountain.”

  Eventually he managed to stand on his own, leaning on her for support. Samantha had read the schematics of the combat suits. She'd never expected to be using one in such a desperate situation.

  “Lucky these suits can take a lot of weight,” said Eva, as if echoing her very thoughts. “I never thought we'd be carrying angels.”

  “We're going to have to move quickly, Io,” Samantha said. “How long do you need to rest?”

  “Not long. Most of the damage was done by the trap itself. It's about keeping the prisoner weak as much as it is keeping them bound. His weapon didn't improve matters. But more importantly, what's happening here? Is the takeover systemic?”

  “Aeon Fall are coming. Karael is on his way, too. They might already be here. The Council are trapped in the castle. We've got to free them.”

  “Lead the way,” Eva urged. “I'll be close behind you.”

  Io gave her a warning look. “Be careful, Eva Scott. Intent can be as damning as action.”

  Samantha led the way back into the corridor above, Eva catching them up by the time they had ascended the stairs, rifle in hand.

  “Try not to use those unless you absolutely have to,” Io said.

  “Murder is the greatest sin of all,” Eva replied. “Yeah, I know.”

  “True,” Io agreed. “However, if you keep firing a gun down here and there are terrorists about, don't you suppose it will draw them to you? Allow me to help.”

  They moved through the absolute darkness of the tunnels, Io had no problem seeing in the dark now he was in full control of his faculties. Every step took them closer to a confrontation Samantha wasn't truly ready for. All of her life she had played the rebel, using attack as her only form of defence. If they only knew how scared she was, her family might look upon her differently. The kidnappings, the glancing confrontations with Karael, had all been reactions. Now she was making a proactive choice to take a stand and it terrified her. She held on to Io with a firm grip. She would do it for him.

  They had to double back when presented with locked doors. Fortunately not every tunnel was carved
from the rock and as they passed under the castle there were more alternatives.

  “The stairwell to the dock is through that door,” Eva said, her voice quiet but perfectly audible over the headset. “The circuit breakers are about halfway down, through a door.”

  “Won't they be locked too?”

  “It would be somewhat self-defeating if the solution to our problem was trapped the same way. No, that door is key locked. It just needs a good swift kick.”

  “There's somebody out there,” said Io. “He's armed.”

  “Can you do anything from here?” Eva asked. “You know, sort of reach out?”

  “It doesn't work like that,” he replied.

  “I've got an idea,” Samantha volunteered. She leaned past Io and gave the door three gentle taps with her gloved hand. Stepping back, she waited.

  The door creaked as it was opened from the other side. Predictably, an automatic rifle poked through as the door widened. Samantha crouched and Eva followed suit.

  Taking this as a cue, Io grabbed the gun and slammed its owner against the wall. He reached out and clamped one hand over the mouth of their would-be opponent holding him firm. In seconds, the man's eyes began to smoke and then glow. He tried to scream but the sound was muffled by Io's hand. With a hiss of burning flesh it was over. The smoking body dropped to the floor, the mouth still agape.

  “Io, what did you do?” Samantha asked. “His eyes have burned out.”

  “In the instant I held the man, I touched his soul and perceived his intent. Sometimes this happens when there's an evil festering deep down. Many can't bear to face the truth from within. He was damned and the force of my touch was too much.”

  “How can you know the truth about a man from a touch?”

  Io sounded strangely sarcastic as he answered, “Hello? Warrior angel from God?”

  Eva began to laugh. “You have definitely been spending too much time with my daughter. What else did you see?”

  “This is a small force, more of a patrol. The main force is on the lake, waiting for a signal to enter the tunnel.”

  “We've got to get the power back up so our own guys can get down here,” Samantha said. Urgency was needed. “Let's move.”

  “There is more,” Io added, unmoving. “There are those in the council allied to Aeon Fall. This man is a pawn. He did not know who the moles are, but he suspects there is someone, or something, beyond those controlling them. The force on the lake is carrying a weapon, a gas. They intend to unleash it in the castle and end everybody here.”

  “Did he tell you what the signal was?” Eva asked.

  “No. He did not know.”

  “You're crazy, Mom,” Samantha said, already guessing what her mother had planned.

  “Am I missing something?” Io asked.

  “I've heard tales from several of the council regarding the crazy escapades of Eva Scott as I grew up, Io. I never thought I'd be in one. What mom's suggesting is that if you found someone who knew the signal, we could turn the tables on Aeon Fall, invite them in and trap them.”

  “You got all that from one sentence?”

  Samantha shrugged, the suit sticking like a second skin with the movement. “Look at what you got from one touch.”

  “Is she correct?” Io turned to Eva.

  “Of course she is,” Eva replied. “She's my daughter.”

  Samantha's heart glowed.

  * * *

  Io led the way down the stairwell, his feet silent. He hardly even registered on the night vision but Samantha could feel him without looking. The closer she was, the safer she felt. Samantha found herself wishing she could replicate that particular camouflage. She followed close behind, her mother watching the rear with rifle raised.

  “John, you getting all this?” Eva whispered. “We're caught in the middle of them.”

  “Get that power back on and all Hell will break loose,” he promised. “I want you to flip the switches and hole up in there, you hear me? Stay safe.”

  There was no response from her mother. Samantha turned. Eva stood still, frozen to the spot with her rifle aimed down the stairs. At the limit of her vision were two figures taking hesitant steps toward them, dressed in similar attire but waving flashlights about as if expecting to get jumped any second. It appeared by the way they crept, they were just as afraid as she was. In front of the two was the door they sought; they stopped.

  “This it?” one asked,

  “Yeah. The Man said wait by the door, hold the passage until the rest come. Should be on their way, according to schedule.”

  Samantha decided it was time for some crazy tactics of her own. She pushed past Io, marching straight at the two intruders. She felt her mother's hand slip off of her shoulder, reaching to pull her back, but she was committed. She pressed a button on the pad on her arm that linked to the headset. Voice modulation.

  “You two are supposed to be in the pool room,” she barked, her voice sounding alpha male as it was cast into the darkness. “New orders from The Master until the light comes back on.”

  The intruders looked at each other in confusion. “The Master doesn't issue the orders,” one challenged, shining his flashlight at her face. “Who are you? What's that gear?”

  Both men began to raise their weapons, as did Samantha.

  Io dodged in front of her, taking a bullet in the chest as the speaker fired. He held both hands up, one to each of their faces and his palms glowed. “She's a crazy person, that's who she is,” Io growled as both men screamed, their arms slack as they were judged. “Just like your mother. Don't do that again!” he warned her over his shoulder.

  “Io, look,” Eva commanded.

  Io turned. One of the pair, the man who fired a shot, dropped to the ground, eyes black and smoking. The other remained standing, staring at Io with wide, worried eyes.

  Samantha seized the opportunity to open the door and pull her mother into the circuit breaker room. A series of large breakers were on a panel above a sturdy metal table. “Which one?” she asked as Io followed. Strangely, the intruder who hadn't burned up came into the room, staring at Io. “Are you God?”

  “Sammy, why do you sound like a man?” Her mother had stopped in the hall behind them. Her voice was cautious, low. “What's happened to you?”

  “It's the headset, Mom. It has all sorts of tricks. Which breaker is it?” Samantha nodded toward the panel.

  “All of them. Make sure they're all flipped up, then the master switch at the bottom. Flip that one up too.”

  Samantha flipped the breakers, pausing before the last switch and offering a silent prayer. “I hope this works.” She flipped the master switch and prayed.

  Chapter Thirty

  For a few seconds, nothing happened. Samantha's heart sank. “This was all for—” The lights blinked on, cutting her sentence short.

  “John, you still there?” she asked.

  “He's got Swanson,” John yelled above the sounds of a struggle, screams drowning out many of the words. “—little bastard. Hold tight Sammy. We can't tell if Aeon Fall have breached the pool door yet. Agents are on their way. Barricade yourselves if you can. I—” The signal went dead.

  “John? John?”

  Samantha pulled her headset off. “The line's dead at his end. Mom, stop shouting.” She turned to the captured terrorist, pointing her rifle at him. “You!” she said, “how did you get in here?”

  His gaze switched between her and Io as Io lowered her weapon, pushing it firmly down. “You do not need it. Oliver here has undergone somewhat of a transformation. His companion Benjamin was not so fortunate.”

  “I've seen the light, been shown is more to the point. We swam in through a conduit that feeds water into your dock. It's at the base of the pool. We were supposed to take the castle once the angel—” he stared at Io again, “was secured but the power was cut, leaving the outer doors locked down.”

  “And the signal?” Eva asked.

  “Red flares.” Oliver reached
to his belt, touching two rods with plastic caps.

  “How many are there?”

  Oliver looked confused. “Flares? We each have two.”

  “How many in your squad?”

  “Twelve. Ben and myself, four more in the pool, and six on ahead.”

  “That means three in the castle then, with those we took out,” said Samantha. “Okay we play it safe. Wedge this table under the handle. That at least will give us a few moments delay.”

  Oliver and Io picked up the table, wedging it tight to the door with considerable force, then moved to the far end of the room. As an afterthought Io switched the light off.

  The minutes ticked by with no movement outside.

  “What are they waiting for?” Eva growled. “The response team should be down here by now.”

  Io moved to the door, holding his hand against the panel. After a few moments he said, “Nothing. Wait here.”

  Before anybody could protest, Io shifted the table and was through the door.

  “Great,” Samantha muttered. “Our smoking gun decides to get creative.” Replacing the table with Oliver's help, she settled next to her mother. Their recent convert hunkered down next to them, rifle raised at the door. In the dark, uncertainty gnawed at Samantha's resolve. To find some small measure of comfort, she replaced the blue tinge of her headset's screen with red. In the corner of the screen a word lit up, a word only someone with access to the Shikari armor would understand.

  “Mom,” she said quietly. “Turn your screen red.”

  The door burst open with a spray of splinters and Io dashed in. The table, a seemingly ineffective blockade, shot past them and smashed to pieces on the far wall. “This is a trap! There's nobody down at the underground passage. The castle is full of Aeon Fall and they're all upstairs! They came from the town. They appear to have known every way in.”

  Samantha turned to Oliver. “But you said…”

  Oliver's beatific smile turned up at the edges, his face now a mask of pure hatred. He bared teeth like a wild dog in an inhuman approximation of a grin, his lips twitching with suppressed rage. “Enough to keep you here. For myself. Rockwell can have the scraps. I'll take the Devil's whore for Crustallos. She whose blood locked Him out, whose blade rendered Him sightless will make a trophy, indeed.” Oliver spat on the floor. “Angels. Demons. Usurpers and degenerates. Your touch cannot taint me.”