Nyteria Rising (The Thirteenth Series Book 3)

by G. L. Twynham

  “Elated, yes,” she muttered.

  “Nathan helped me get to Earth to make plans for Lailah’s escape and I gave him information on the weaknesses of the Nyterian government. The rest is, or was, history. When Nathan came here, he asked around about the female Guard who was great enough to free the Warden and found out that you had captured the infamous Excariot Crow, and he once again kindly released me. Now I have a new body and a new life. I get to run the Prison when Nathan returns to Nyteria. You see, Val, I know the rules. As long as the Prison is still being run and one Judge survives, and Nathan doesn’t get united with a Guard, there is nothing that can stop us. So you see, I win.”

  “Well, you should be pleased to know that Lailah, Eva and your son are all dead. I killed them!” Val tried to shock him.

  “Really?” he scoffed, “You expect me to believe you actually killed them? Not possible. You are a Guard through and through.”

  “Daniel killed Shane, so I returned the favour.”

  Excariot’s expression changed. Val thought that maybe he would believe her now. “About time. I killed his wife, so it’s only fitting that my son kill her husband. I’m now proud of the child I never wanted.”

  “You killed Elizabeth?” Val felt weak, like he had stolen her strength, taking what she had left.

  “One in a long list, my friend,” he grinned. “Now, I’m going to look around my new home, and start making the required changes to the Guards’ DNA. Did you know we could do that?”

  “No.”

  “Yes, in the same way we rid them of their powers, we can give them back. Now they will only work under my orders. They will be like puppets. I did love Punch and Judy. Those were good days on Earth.” He looked wistfully into the distance.

  “You’re a nutter and I will get out of here, out of this ridiculous dress, and make sure you pay for what you’re doing.” Val pulled herself to her feet.

  “I’ll look forward to that. The rest are no competition.” He tapped her cell for good luck and walked away, leaving her once more in silence.

  She stared down at her pinkness. She was trapped and, knowing that if they could extract the Warden’s DNA, there was no reason why Excariot couldn’t insert his own, was a living nightmare. There would be a Prison full of Excariot’s. The question was: would that counteract the vaccine Zac had delivered? Or would the vaccine over-ride the change?

  “Jason, can you hear me?” she waited for an answer.

  “Hello Val it’s me, Eswith. Jason has taken a break. How are you doing? Not long now.”

  “We could have a problem. Excariot’s back and it seems he has another virus to change the compliance of the Guards. I don’t know when he’s going to administer it or if they have already done that.”

  “Right, we need to get someone on the surface and fast, to take some samples. Stay where you are. I will contact you as soon as I have news.”

  “Not much chance of me leaving.” Val tapped the wall. The door opened at the same moment, causing her to jump. She waited for someone else to enter to tell her she was next in-line for the extraction chamber, but there was no-one there. She looked around her. There were only two people she knew who could enter a room without being detected.

  “Val.” She heard one of the voices she was hoping for.

  “Hadwyn, what are you doing here?” she whispered through pursed lips in case she was being watched.

  “I was bored,” he replied, his voice full of childish play.

  “I can’t leave this cell or Nathan will kill Sam,” she whispered.

  “We know. Boden has gone in search of them.”

  “So, just me and you then. And you came here because?” Val asked.

  “Just had to see if that dress looked as awful as it sounded,” he said. “So, if we can’t get her out without risking the Judges, what can we do Wendy?”

  “Hadwyn, I’m Val,” she shook her head.

  “I know.” A female voice answered. It was Wendy. “We need to swap places,” she said.

  Val wanted to cheer and whoop, yet she had to contain herself. “Hello, can’t tell you how nice it is to have someone normal here.” She tried to keep her face emotionless.

  “Can you do this?” Hadwyn enquired ignoring Val’s comment.

  “I think so. It’s a traditional trading spell. Sam taught me this one, clearly he saw what was coming better than me. I have to get through the glass, which will take me a bit longer.”

  “Wendy, you’re taking a very big risk trading with me, I don’t know what’s coming; anything could happen.” Val was worried for her friend.

  “We need you out of here more than we need me right now, so I’m willing to take that risk. Just give me a moment.”

  “Take your time,” Val said. “I’m not going anywhere.” She heard a large slapping sound, like a clapping of hands, followed by what sounded like a rubbing of palms. “Mutare locum, mutare loca, in me et eam.” Wendy started to chant. “Mutare locum, mutare loca, in me et eam.” Val desperately wanted to know what she was saying, but was far too scared to interrupt.

  Hadwyn whispered, his voice tinged with concern, “Val, she’s shaking.”

  “Get ready.” Val closed her eyes tight. Whatever happened, it normally hurt or made you sick. Then the drawing feeling started.

  “Put your helmet on,” Hadwyn advised. “I will make you invisible.” Val did as she was told and then her heart seemed to stop; she knew she was alive, but couldn’t feel her body, there was no breathing, no heartbeat. She peeked a little and her eyes blurred, everything was moving in slow motion. She could feel herself moving through the wall of her cell. Then everything came back into focus. She was out of the cell and Wendy was inside and looking pretty in pink.

  “They’re going to see it’s not me if anyone checks?” Val said.

  “Give me a second.” Wendy placed her hands over her face. “All that is seen, all that has been, in my reflection, now give Val protection.” She pulled her hands away.

  “Oh dear God,” Val gasped as Wendy’s reflection mutated to match hers.

  “Don’t worry, it’s just an illusion.”

  “Good, I don’t think I can cope with two,” Hadwyn groaned.

  Wendy smiled. “Ok, go set the Prison free. They’ll never know it’s me in here.”

  Val saluted her. “See me soon.”

  CHAPTER 23

  The Beginning of the End

  Hadwyn was now visible to her, although he had assured her no one else could see them.

  “I can’t keep this up for long, so let’s mingle,” he said as they reached a group of Guards. They rammed their way to the centre of the group as the Guards looked around in confusion, wondering who had pushed them. “We’re going visible now.”

  She allowed her helmet to retract. The Guard next to her was familiar; it was the young man she had met only a few days ago. His expression became panicked, “cover your face, quickly, they all know what you look like,” he insisted.

  Val’s helmet covered her face once more. Hadwyn was behind her and was eyeing the Guard. “Are you ok?”

  “Yes, he was just telling me to cover my face.”

  Hadwyn looked at his Dellatrax. “We only have thirty minutes before the vaccine takes affect and the reinforcement from the Space arrive. We need to let the Guards know what’s going to happen.”

  “Is there a way to send a message to all the Dellatrax at once?” Val asked.

  “Yes,” the Guard behind her interrupted. “There is a way. In the Warden’s office he has a device that only he can use to communicate with all the Guards and Hunters if there is an emergency. I delivered a message once that merited distribution.”

  “Good, then let’s go get it.” Val said. “Keep your chin up, we’ll all be free soon.” She patted the Guard on the shoulder and he offered her a weary smile. Hadwyn and Val started to move through the Guards. Recognising their uniforms, the Guards moved to conceal their path. “Jason? Eswith? Anyone?” Val aske
d.

  Jason was back on the job. “Hello mate. Have our guests arrived?”

  “If you mean crazy gunman and Wendy, yes. We’re on our way to the Warden’s office, so any help you can give us is welcome.”

  “I’ll check the maps. Everyone has started teleporting to the surface. We can keep most contained in the rooms that have been protected by Sam over the years. We’ll need your go ahead to start the assault as you’ll be the only ones who can get the message to the Prison Guards that we’re coming.”

  “No pressure then?”

  “Just a minute, Eswith wants to speak to you.”

  “Hello Val. We have run some tests and the atmosphere hasn’t changed since you arrived. If there is something that they are going to release into the air, you will have to stop them.”

  “Right, so we need to get to the Warden’s office and send a signal to all Guards, and stop Excariot’s plan to make the Guards into drones. Is that everything?”

  “For now it is. Please stay safe.”

  “Just one last question: any news on Boden?”

  “We lost contact when he entered the sector that’s holding the High Judges. We can only hope all is well,” Eswith replied.

  Hadwyn paused momentarily. “He’s fine, I would know if there was something wrong.”

  “How?” Val wondered whether they had something in their uniform, something that gave a signal when the other was dead.

  “He’s my brother, I would just know.” He surged on, leading the way as they moved into a new corridor. He knew where he was going.

  Hadwyn moved swiftly, but with caution. Val watched how he timed each turn to perfection and seemed to know what side to stand on. He was amazing and she felt a little like a rock around his neck as she did her best to keep close behind him.

  He raised his hand. “His office is around the corner, but there are people outside.” He flashed a second look around the corner. “Four soldiers and the man who came to visit you in your cell before we arrived.”

  “Excariot. Great. What are they doing outside?” she asked.

  “Excariot?” Hadwyn’s face filled with anger.

  “The very same, new body.”

  He looked again. “Looks like they can’t get in. I would like to bet that the Warden has that office locked. Without his bracelet they won’t be able to get in.”

  Val smiled and pulled back her sleeve to reveal the very bracelet he was talking about. “Like this one?” She grinned widely.

  “Yes.” He looked again. “Excariot has gone to get the Warden’s assistant for sure. I can deal with the soldiers, but you need to get in there and shut the door behind you, and you won’t have long.”

  “What about you?” Val’s smile was gone in a breath.

  “Val, the mission is what counts. Do what you have to do.” He drew his gun.

  Val was concerned. “What if you need my help?”

  Hadwyn laughed. “Seriously?” He pushed her and turned to run. “Do your job.” Then he was sprinting around the corner, firing at the soldiers and chasing them along the corridor.

  Val followed a few seconds later. Reaching the door, she shoved her arm against it and as Hadwyn had predicted, it opened. She turned, slamming it shut quickly. “Hello, Jason?”

  “I’m here. I can see you’re in the office and Hadwyn is still moving down the corridor.”

  She looked around the outer office. It surely wouldn’t be here. “I need Enoch.”

  “He’s helping teleport Guards. I’ll try to connect you direct. He has one of your ear pieces.”

  “Hurry.” She said retracting her helmet. She needed to stop seeing her heart rate, it just made her feel worse. ‘Come on, Val. If you were the Warden, where would you put something you use to communicate with everyone? She moved into the Warden’s office. His desk was just a flat glass screen, holding nothing. Where was the device?

  “Val can you hear me?” Enoch’s voice was a welcome interruption.

  “Loud and clear. I need you to tell me how the Warden communicates with all the Guards at once through their Dellatrax. What does he use?”

  “I’m not sure. I can only surmise he uses a device similar to the Dellatrax. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll keep looking.” Val was by the wall, checking the shelves. Her hand passed over bare glass. Then she heard a click and a recess opened in the shelf triggered by the proximity of the Wardens bracelet. She reached into the opening and felt a box. She pulled it out quickly, but as she did so she heard the external door opening. Excariot must be back with the Assistant. She looked desperately for somewhere to hide. There was only one place: under the desk. ‘You came all the way to another galaxy to hide under a desk!’ she thought. Luckily for her the Warden had big legs and so she fittted easily, hiding away just as Excariot entered the office.

  “Where are the star charts?!” he bellowed at the poor woman who was with him.

  “I... I don’t know. I told you, I’ve never heard of any star charts,” she whimpered.

  “You lie.” Val felt the woman being shoved against the desk. She wanted to go and kick his butt back into a cell, but personal revenge would have to wait. Thousands of people were relying on her to do her duty.

  “It’s the truth. The only person who dealt with charts is now a prisoner.”

  “Who?”

  Val spotted his feet coming around the desk. She held her breath and gripped the box she had just acquired.

  “The Judge, Sam.” The woman replied through her tears.

  “Have him brought to me,” he ordered, sitting down in the Warden’s chair. Val flattened herself against the back of the desk, hoping he wouldn’t stretch his legs out. She was so frightened she thought she was going to be sick. He pulled up the chair and she tensed, but to her relief there was still room for them both.

  “Val, I can see another person in the office with you, so I can only guess you’re hiding. You have ten minutes before the Guard’s return to normal. When that happens, if they don’t know what’s going on, we may lose before we’ve started. We need to get that information out.”

  Excariot coughed and shifted position. Val could see his arms moving over the Wardens desk and a glimmer of light appeared. Then came what sounded like touchtones. She took the opportunity to look at the box she was holding. It was made of what looked like smoked glass. She ran her fingers gently over the top. The last thing she needed was for it to make any noise. She heard the door opening. This was it. Sam would be here and she would fight to save him. She tensed up, getting ready to pull out her sword.

  “Who are you?” Excariot enquired.

  “I am an old friend,” a man replied.

  “Of whom? This body? Because I have never seen you before,” His response was curt with annoyance.

  “It’s time you came with me,” the man said.

  Excariot laughed. “Do you know who I am?”

  “Indeed.”

  “Then you will know that you should show me more respect if you wish to live.”

  “Well Excariot Crow, I’m Slyig oldest of the old ones, and I don’t feel like showing you anything of the sort.”

  Val’s ears pricked up, Slyig, oldest of the old. What was going to happen now? “Slyig, such a pleasure to see you, although I do prefer to think of you as Flo. How did you get here?” His tone had now changed; some of the arrogance had gone. Val watched as he reached into a pocket on his trousers and pulled out a handgun, keeping it hidden under the desk. It now pointed at Val’s face. She held her breath.

  “A book of tricks brought me here. And now you will pay for four hundred years, but first, Delta and I have a use for you, so I will take you with me now.”

  “I don’t think so.” In that moment time seemed to slow down. Excariot went to shoot Flo, but couldn’t because Val had grabbed the weapon. It was an act of desperation, but she wanted Flo to get Excariot off the planet. She pushed on the end of the weapon, forcing it hard down as Excariot tried to ra
ise it. Val heard another weapon go off and Excariot’s body fell limp, his head hitting the table with a thud. Val quickly prised his fingers off the weapon and pulled it away, holding it in her lap.

  Excariot’s body was lifted from the chair. And then they were gone. Val took a deep and much needed breath. “One down, one to go,” she muttered.

  “Have you found it, Val?” Jason was in her ear again, sounding tense. “They’re about to get their powers back.”

  “Just one second.” She fumbled with the box. The top slid open and out dropped a watch, like the Guards’ Dellatrax only Red. She didn’t have time to give it to the Warden so she was going to have to try and do this herself. Tentatively she put it on. Nothing happened. She looked at the screen, but it remained dark. “Please do something,” she pleaded with it. As she spoke the screen lit up, along with the Warden’s bracelet. “This is a message for all Guards. Your powers are restored. We’ll be launching an assault in the next few minutes. You should support the assault, but only engage Nyterian soldiers. NOT, I repeat, not anyone who has wheels or metal limbs. They’re on our side.” Val placed her head onto her knees and took a moment to hope that somehow she’d got it right.

  Then the pain began, it started in her tattoo then ran the full length of her arm, hitting where the Warden’s watch rested with a sharp pain, like poison running into her veins. She tried to get it off, but it was too late. Her body jolted so hard it hit both sides of the underside of the table. She shook violently, her hearing gone, nothing but static running through her head. Her body jolted once more, this time enough to throw the table over and leave her suspended in the air.

  The door to the office opened and in walked the Assistant with Sam. “Dear me,” the woman exclaimed finding not Excariot, but a girl suspended in mid-air.

  “Get out of my way.” Sam moved forward. Val was unconscious and had clearly entered into what he recognised as a transformation. But how? This only happened to higher beings. What had she done? He looked all over her body for a symbol. There on her arm, through her uniform he could see the tattoo was changing, burning bright, right in front of his eyes. “I need to help her.”