Codi had become so enthralled with the small creature accompanying her that she made a note to consult Anaar on the possibility of creating one of her own. For it to understand her and function so competently without Anaar needing to be present was astonishing. What was even more astounding was its ability to simultaneously carry her and melt panes thick glass at the same time. Codi figured that stealth meant little given their current state, and if the building was going to be destroyed anyway, she might as well create her own shortcut.
The tiny dragon was currently ascending to the eighth floor from outside the building. Codi had found a window and used the familiar to destroy the glass to make their way to the top. Based on what she could see, it appeared she had reached the correct floor. Almost as if it had read her mind, gouts of flame erupted from the dragon’s mouth, melting the glass so that Codi could gain access to the interior of the building. She also found it impressive, although scary how quiet the beast was. Once again she could understand why, but it felt to her it should make noise if it was going to be so deadly.
Codi fought her way through a few guards that were posted, none of them posing a threat with her new friend in tow. Between her and the dragon, enemies were dispatched before they had the opportunity to make much of a ruckus which would alert others. It took her no time at all to reach the office again, but it had drastically changed from the last time she was there. The man had not completely counted her out, because the glass panes were now covered with thick metal, effectively turning the office into a panic room.
“So… can you like… handle this?”
The dragon flexed its wings as if to respond affirmatively and began spewing its most intense flames from its mouth. In no time at all, there was a hole big enough to enter in the metal shielding. Pointing to the ground to denote the molten metal, Codi was pleased the dragon understood enough to carry her through the opening so she did not hurt herself on the molten puddle now occupying the floor. The man from before had been furiously attempting to call for assistance from the moment his protection began to melt away. With no one coming to his aid, Codi entered confidently wearing her smirk.
“You know all those peons you sent to kill me? Well they are all dead and I really didn’t appreciate it. Trying to kill me doesn’t win you any favors, SO BURN FOR IT FUCKER! Get him Draggy!”
The dragonling turned its back to her, refusing to move from its position.
“Alright, we’ll work on the name. Damn…”
Finding the response acceptable, it doused the man in fire, reducing him to a charred husk in seconds. Flexing its wings in victory, it flutters down onto Codi’s head, curling up as if it were going to take a nap. Codi had not realized just how much heat such a feat generated, the room so hot she had started to sweat. A portal opened nearby, with Peter and Anaar emerging through it. Peter was instantly assaulted by the sweltering heat, while Anaar appeared completely unfazed. The dragonling happily left its perch on Codi’s head to nestle onto Anaar’s instead.
Peter sniffed the air and looked to Codi for an answer. “Why does it smell like baked chicken in here?”
Anaar peered around the desk, still wearing a blank expression. “I can only surmise it is the well done human on the floor here. Someone has been taking liberties with my dragon.”
“That thing is fucking awesome! It is like a whole ass pet! That can murder people! That has to be the final evolution of playing fetch. I want one!”
“Nope. Doesn’t work that way.”
Peter looked on in horror, vomiting as the two could so lightheartedly converse with the charred body in their midst. Once he had recovered from seeing the barbecued remains of the man, rather than remain awkwardly silent, he chose to remind everyone of the mission.
“Did we rescue Kotalya?”
Codi slaps her forehead and doubled over for effect. “Oh shit! I almost forgot about that! Do you know where he is?”
Peter shakes his head vigorously. “I could never find anything that I could connect to him or his location. He may not be held in this facility after all.”
“Umm, could she perhaps be the person directly above us being guarded by two people?”
They both wheeled to look at Anaar in confusion. Codi rushed over to Anaar and began tugging on his arm.
“Say what?! What do you mean directly above us?! Wait, she? I thought it was a dude.”
“Am I supposed to answer that? Fine, hold on…”
A portal opens in the ceiling above their heads, with both Codi and Peter peering into it. Before long, a head inches out just enough for an eye to be visible. When it had assessed there was no immediate threat, the rest of the woman’s head emerged.
“Are you Miss Kotalya?”
The woman looked to Peter, whom she regarded with curiosity for a moment before her eyes darted between the three of them. “Who are you? How did you make this portal?! I have been trying to get out for days, but there is something blocking my powers. Instead of keeping me out, they are using it to keep me in.”
Anaar nods with understanding. “I see, you can teleport. That must be why you were held here. There are not many places that keep a Transporter locked in.”
The woman looks to Anaar, his words indicating he was versed in the topic. “You made this portal?”
“Yes. Are you planning on coming through it, or are you going to stay there forever? Even though my portal should provide a large enough gap to disrupt the protections, worst case scenario you end up scattering yourself everywhere. Best to just come through this way.”
The woman was rapidly beginning to trust the large man who understood spatial theory well. Jumping through the portal, she was caught in Anaar’s arms to break her fall. The portal closed and she bowed in thanks.
“I don’t know how you broke through, but you have my thanks. Can we leave? I don’t know how long it will be before the guards notice I am gone. With the alarms blaring earlier, I have a feeling they will be checking more often.”
Anaar saw no reason not to comply with her request, so a portal to exterior of the building opened, and the four of them stepped outside. Codi, Peter and Kotalya all let out sighs of relief, reveling in the understanding that they had made it out. It did not take long before Codi was reminded of the final objective of the mission.
“Petey! Did you set the bombs?”
Peter blanches, becoming even paler than he typically was. “I… actually left them in the room in my haste to escape once the alarms went off. I never had the chance to plant them.”
“Fuck! Now how are we supposed to-” Codi looks to Anaar sweetly, the saccharine smile only enhanced by her lack of the heavy makeup she always wore.
“Nope.”
She tugs on Anaar’s arm as if she were a child in the grocery store begging for candy. “Come on! Don’t be like that! It would be nothing for you!”
“I came here to keep Peter from getting killed. I saved you only because I knew Phavian would never let me hear the end of it if I let anything happen to you. I told you not to take this mission.”
“Please Anaar! It is so important that I see this thing through! I need to get this done!”
“You aren’t doing it though! I am! I told you before, I’m not going to kill all these people for your ego!”
“Fine! I’ll do it myself! I’ll set the charges and blow this place sky high!”
Codi takes off at a clip, headed back toward the building. Anaar knew all too well Codi was stubborn enough to risk her life for a pointless cause. His annoyance level had almost reached critical, but he knew that it would have been a waste if he did so much to ensure her safety, only to have her get herself killed anyway. Before she could get too far away, he called out to her though the exasperation in his voice was evident.
“Wait! Just… come back…”
Codi slowly turned, then bolted back toward the others with a squeal. “I knew you couldn’t let me down! It isn’t in your nature to disappoint people!”
&
nbsp; Anaar shot Codi a withering glance before closing his eyes to concentrate. He could not understand why much of the building’s personnel was still present despite the alarm and all the fighting. He was not sure if people had not understood the extent of the situation, or if they were told to hunker down. Regardless of the reason, he knew something needed to be done about it.
Far in the distance, a portal opened which connected to hundreds of smaller portals in the building. Anaar had pinpointed every living person and opened a portal below them. The wave of screaming bodies that tumbled forth from the tunnel, some in objects such as desk chairs continued to grow and grow. Anaar had to open two additional portals in which to funnel people through so they did not get too clustered.
The mass of disoriented people had begun untangling themselves and attempting to understand what had occurred, when the large building exploded in a flashy display. The shockwave was enough to knock many whom had just found their footing, back to the ground as debris showered the area. Codi was about to jump up and cheer when she found herself being yanked through a portal. She had been so focused on the spectacle of her completed mission, she had not noticed Anaar had already prepared their exit. Anaar left Peter, Kotalya and Codi back at the headquarters where they were due to report, without saying a word before disappearing again. Codi was just about to launch into a rant about Anaar when she heard a crystal clear voice ring out.
“Ms. Aya. We did not expect you back so soon, and with the captive nonetheless. I presume you have a full report to give me.”
Codi stiffly turned to the stern woman in her power suit and heels, her insides boiling over as she was convinced Anaar had set her up. Changing her expression to an affected smile, Codi followed the woman, mentally preparing her report in a way that would allow her to gloss over all the unfortunate details.
21
Codi awoke refreshed and happy amidst the tangle of limbs and bedsheets. Sometimes she wondered how they managed to fit five women in one bed. As she struggled to free a trapped arm that had gone numb, she realized it may not have been accurate to say they all fit.
Pryshka had thrown her a massive celebration in honor of not only her first mission she had ever accepted on her own and been the leader, but also because she had achieved the impossible. Due to the insanity that was the mission, Codi had poured every fiber of her being into preparation. Reflecting on those days, she acknowledged just how horrible she had been to Pryshka, yet she had not missed a beat when it came to throwing her a party.
Codi was used to her room still being somewhat orderly even after a drunken night of fun she barely remembered. From the looks of Pryshka’s room, her staunchly protective behaviors only extended to her four walls. Freeing herself completely, she began to clean up the evidence of their exploits. Once Pryshka awoke, she very swiftly gathered up the other women and had them make their exit. As she looked around at her room, she felt herself become queasy, the origin of which she could not readily ascertain.
Codi walked over to Pryshka, gently wrapping her arms around her, swaying lightly as she nuzzled her chest. “If you are going to puke, you’d better hurry to the bathroom. Your room is a disaster as is.”
Pryshka sighed as she shook her head. “No, I’m fine. What happened last night?”
Codi pulled back, her eyes wide. “Oh shit… I was hoping you knew…”
Pryshka could only give a weak smile in return as she fell backwards on the bed. “There is no way I am going to class today.”
Codi had forgotten that due to Anaar’s presence, they had saved two days on their trip, which meant they still had two days before the weekend. Though she and Peter had been excused from their classes, Pryshka had not. Codi curled up next to her, stroking her hair.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. My Thursday classes are all electives anyway. I’m not concerned.”
Codi grabs Pryshka’s hand, bringing it to her lips and kissing it tenderly. “It’s not just about that. I was a complete bitch to you before I left, yet rather than stewing over it and holding it against me, you put it aside to allow me to enjoy my moment. I should have never treated you that way.”
Pryskha rolls over so that she can stare deep into Codi’s eyes. “Do you know how little I care about that? The only thing I cared about was if you would actually make it home. I wanted to be fully supportive of you, but it scared me to death, and I didn’t think you could accomplish it if I am being honest. At least without being seriously hurt.”
Though she wanted to be upset at Pryshka for not believing in her, Codi knew that she had every right to those feelings. She may have stubbornly pushed ahead, but with the results of the mission, it was clear to her that she only made it through alive due to Anaar’s timely intervention. The logistics of such were still a complete mystery, but when she thought over most of his behavior, it was within normal parameters. She held Pryshka silently as she thought about how much undue pain she would have caused if she had not made it back alive and well.
“Alright, good. Now burn hotter for me, as hot as you can go.”
Anaar stood in his dark blue skintight suit, surrounded by a shield in his Flame Form. “You don’t want that.”
Miles poked out his lips into a pout as Anaar refused his request. “This is my experiment. I’m quite aware of what I desire.”
“This may be your experiment, but it is only thanks to my ability you can do this. Do you really think you could have procured the means to run tests at these temperatures if I could not create containment fields to suppress the heat? The entire building would melt!”
Miles looked to Jadeyn for assistance, but per her usual, it appeared she sided with Anaar. “I blame you and Ixnes for keeping me in the dark for so long! We have wasted years of precious research! Do you know the breakthroughs I could have made by now if I had access to this from the start?!”
Anaar read an incoming message on his overlay, quickly responding to it before answering Miles. “Well, that is how things go sometimes. With that, I shall go too.” The barrier dropped and he began to gather his clothing.
“Wait! We are not done! Where are you going?! You promised you would not give Fredderick more time than me!”
“You have more than enough data to work with for now. I need to go. I’ll see you later.”
Miles opened his mouth to respond, but with the speed Anaar had dressed, he had already opened a portal and departed, leaving Miles to converse with himself. Though he loved the prospect of studying Anaar’s coronas to unlock secrets to new technological breakthroughs, it now allowed him a hasty retreat, which made it difficult to talk him into staying longer.
Anaar was not surprised to be meeting in the same spot he had met Codi the week prior. With less time for extended meals like they used to do, shorter meetings in The Rack were preferable. Rather than order a beverage, he waited patiently for Codi to arrive, perusing some of the data from the experiments he and Miles had been conducting recently.
Codi arrived, back in her normal style of dress along with all her accessories and heavily made-up face. He had seen Codi dressed down before, but it was such a rarity, he still required a doubletake. Though the makeup hid it well, based on her biological signs, she was suffering from a mild case of alcohol poisoning, and she was extremely dehydrated.
“Damn you and those portals! Most of us have to actually hoof it around! We can’t just wriggle our nose and appear out of thin air!”
Anaar looks at Codi absently, his true focus still on the data flowing past his overlay. “And most of us aren’t walking generators. When is the last time anything of yours ever had a dead battery? Everyone has little perks to their lives. Why this urgent meeting? I’d think it better to be resting from all the drinking and who knows what else you did last night.”
Codi quickly extricates a tiny mirror from what appeared to be thin air and checked her appearance. “Do I still look like shit?! I tried to cover all that up!” Once her examination
was complete, she put the mirror away and pointed angrily. “I look fine! How did you know that?!” She pauses then stomps her foot. “Fucking Phave!”
Anaar chose not to continue the line of conversation, which prompted Codi to finally take her seat. Closing his screens, he gave Codi his full attention.
“Well?”
Codi had only cobbled together a few thoughts, but even those escaped her grasp at the moment. Mind in a jumble she blurted out the first thing she could focus upon.
“I’m sorry about everything I dragged you into on that mission.”
Anaar’s eyes narrowed as his gaze became so laser focused, Codi felt as if it were burning through the very fabric of her being. “You’re sorry? That it? You’re sorry?! I’m not even the one you need to be saying that to! Have you begged Peter’s forgiveness for almost getting him killed for the dumbest shit on the planet?! No, let me rephrase. You did get him killed, multiple times over in fact. If I hadn’t been there, you would have thrown away his life like you would a wad of used toilet paper.”
Codi found herself paralyzed and unsure how to respond. Obnoxiously smart and capable, supremely powerful, and sickeningly caring toward the ones he loved, were all parts of Anaar’s character that one either loved or hated. Never had Codi experienced him scolding someone, since his concept of right and wrong was always shown through the lens of individual circumstance. For him to be so vehemently disparaging of her actions was unheard of.
“Petey is a grown ass man, despite how he looks. He knew what he was getting into. He made his own choice.”
“Yes, beautiful rebuttal Codi. The dwarf, with a severe inferiority complex, that has taken serious losses since beginning at this school, was perfectly capable of making sound decisions. There is no way you could have known this considering your relationship. It isn’t as if you are his mentor, or have gone on previous missions with him before. I apologize. The only way this could have been evident was if he would have given himself over to you to do whatever you pleased as long as it made him stronger. I will be sure to learn from your wisdom. Let me go find a raging alcoholic and take them to a beer festival.”
Revelations (Song of Sophangence Book 4) Page 39