Jackal’s Gambit

by C A Ardron

  ‘No,’ Karen whispered. Her instincts told her to give chase, to not let the Sarpien get away, but it was pointless. The silver Sarpien was already flying away - it was over. She got to her feet and had to swerve out of Mantis' reach. He had used the distraction to close in.

  Hawk got a grip on Mantis' shoulder from behind, pulling him back. The Insecta half-turned, striking Hawk in the face with a Smash-Punch. The Avian reeled back, blood pouring from his nose and mouth. In the very next instant Mantis had turned again, and Karen stumbled backwards over the curb, trying to get away from him. He swung for her, his fist coming down at a diagonal angle, striking her leg with the Beetle-Smash.

  Karen let out a painful moan as she heard the sickening crunch of broken bone. Mantis had just ensured she wasn't going anywhere.

  She gasped as he made one last lunge at her and stabbed into the right side of her midriff. She clutched weakly at his shoulders, the strength leaving her body, a sudden roaring in her ears.

  As Mantis shook her off of him, she noticed that two more Canine warriors had appeared on the street. Her sight grew dim as she began to lose consciousness, the three Canines all merging together.

  ***

  Wolf was appalled at the scene before him. It looked as if Jackal had almost every single Elite Sarpien out with him today. His attention was drawn to Dingo, who was shaking his head. He began to manoeuvre the hopper downwards.

  'What are you doing?'

  ‘I can't fire the cannons,’ his friend explained. ‘I'll hit one of ours if I do. I'm taking us down, we'll join the fight on foot.’

  Wolf nodded. It was the only thing they could do under the circumstances. He looked through the cockpit window at the Predgarians and Sarpiens intertwined with each other. He hoped they could beat them back, even though the Sarpiens were outnumbered, they weren't giving ground.

  The hopper landed, and Wolf unbelted himself. Dingo beat him to it and was out of his seat first. Wolf followed him to the back of the vehicle and became impatient as the ramp lowered.

  Wolf rushed down, making straight for Dove. She'd been keeping up with the swift Jackal only because of her Power skills. She gladly backed away as they arrived. Wolf drew his short sword, too close to make use of his preferred laser rifle.

  Dingo had drawn his larger broadsword. It was already glowing with blue-tinged aura energy, making it even more dangerous.

  Wolf left Jackal to Dingo and Dove as he saw a silver Avian descend from the sky. But he was far too late. The Sarpien, who fit the description of the Silver Harrier, swooped down and picked the blond boy up without even bothering to land.

  He paused in shock as he saw the teenager become covered in flame. What in the Light's name? Was such a thing even possible? The boy burned himself out quickly, and Wolf gritted his teeth angrily as Harrier punched the teenager in the side of the head, knocking him out before flying off with him.

  Wolf swore inside his helmet as Mantis punched Hawk in the face. The slender Avian went down gushing blood, and Mantis turned away. Wolf took the rifle off his back, but even as he fired his first shot the damage was already done. He saw the female civilian fall backwards and then let out a painful sound as Mantis stabbed her with his poisoned blade.

  Hawk got back on his feet and struck Mantis in the back. His face was angry and determined. Wolf knew how he felt – it was always a heavy blow when they failed to protect someone.

  Wolf ran to the injured woman and knelt down, taking her in his arms. He covered the bleeding wound with one gauntleted hand. It was futile, he knew that. Even if he could somehow stop the bleeding, the poison would kill her anyway. She had a matter of minutes. He looked around as the street cleared. Jackal had called the retreat.

  Dove landed in front of him. ‘Let me see,’ she said, her voice gentle.

  She knelt down, and he took his hand away from the wound. Wolf saw her face set with concentration as she closed her eyes. She placed one hand on the gaping wound in Karen’s side and the other sought the injury in the leg.

  Wolf released his grip on the woman and stood as Dove glowed brighter and brighter, until the only thing he could see was a white surge of light. It spread wide to include the Unician as well.

  He glanced up as the other Predgarians came closer. Could Dove actually save this woman? Surely she was too far gone?

  It felt like they stood there for ages. Eventually, Dove lessened her focus and let the Power leave her. The brilliant light faded from around the two women, and the healer opened her eyes.

  Wolf looked down at the civilian, it hadn't been enough. The young woman was still unconscious.

  ‘No,’ Hawk said quietly, his voice despairing. ‘She has to be okay, she has to be.’

  Tiger put a hand on his shoulder, her expression angry as well as sad.

  Dove lifted the woman's shirt with a shaking hand, clearly exhausted. She gently wiped off as much of the blood as she could. Wolf gaped in astonishment at the tender and sore-looking scar where there should have been torn skin and gushing blood.

  ‘You did it!’ Dingo exulted.

  Dove smiled up at him. ‘She will live.’

  ‘But, the poison?’ Leopard pointed at the Unician.

  Her tone made Wolf glance at her. She sounded choked, almost as if she was close to tears. Wolf found that hard to believe though, Leopard was one of the toughest people he knew.

  ‘It can be eradicated,’ Dove assured her. ‘If one is fast enough.’

  Wolf stepped forwards and gently picked up the unconscious woman. He found the small Unician was very light. He swallowed, trying to get rid of the tight feeling in his throat. He wasn't sure why he was so emotional, it wasn't like he knew this person.

  Hawk sighed with relief. ‘Oh good. Don't think I would've been able to live with myself.’

  ‘Do you know this woman, Hawk?’ Tiger asked.

  ‘No, but she near enough saved my life today. When I flew in to try and protect her from Jackal she used telepathy to help me out.’

  Dove gave him a sharp look. ‘Telepathy?’

  ‘Yeah. She knew all of Jackal's moves. She told me he was going to attack me with a Canine Pounce, and then he did. She predicted when he was going to draw a knife on me too.’

  Wolf didn't say anything and neither did anyone else, but he was sure they were all thinking the same thing.

  ‘How exactly,’ Tiger asked, ‘could anyone have done that?’

  ‘Lion.’ Dove turned to him tiredly. ‘I want to take her back with us. I haven't finished the healing on her yet, I needed to rest. She's still in quite a bit of danger.’

  Lion's gold helmet bobbed in agreement. ‘I have some questions for her anyway. I'm hoping she knows what Jackal wanted with that boy.’

  Tiger's usual impish smile returned. ‘I imagine it's because he can combust into flames at will.’

  ‘Isn't that impossible?’ Dingo asked.

  ‘No,’ Dove told him. ‘It's very hard to touch the Power without a medallion. Some people say impossible, but it can be done.’

  Leopard folded her arms, reverting back to her old self now that the danger was past. ‘Looks as if the Unician was trying to protect the kid from Jackal.’

  ‘Karen,’ Hawk said suddenly, making everyone look at him. ‘That's what Jackal called her.’

  ‘It appears that she and the boy may be much more than they seem,’ Dove mused. ‘But for now we should get her back to the Centre.’

  ‘Thanks for your help, Dingo,’ Lion stepped forwards, taking the Canine's hand in a firm handshake. ‘We appreciate you coming to help.’

  Dingo nodded his acknowledgement. ‘Any time. I'll leave things in your hands now. I should probably get back to South Sector.’

  ‘Let me know if you have any problems,’ Wolf said as the blue Canine began to walk to his hopper. ‘I’ll vouch for your involvement here.’

  Dingo waved as he glanced back. ‘Will do.’

  ‘Tiger and Leopard, continue your patrol,’ Lion orde
red. ‘The rest of us will head back.’

  Wolf turned around, the Unician still in his arms. ‘What about the boy? We need to help him.’

  ‘We will,’ Lion assured him. ‘But the Sarpiens will have made themselves scarce by now. I've got a hunch this lady knows what's going on. We'll see what she has to say before making any plans.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The Bronze Cobra heard the faint echo of a drip somewhere in the distance. He wondered where it was coming from – too many leaks could accumulate into a much larger problem further down the line.

  Maybe he'd mention it to Jackal. The short Unician man's grin was fierce under the flickering light of the torches lighting the area. The thought of Jackal having to stop everything to investigate a water leak was amusing indeed. Yes, an inspection of the muddy, watery kind definitely loomed in his general's future.

  He turned his attention back to the large, metal structure before him. The circular disc base shone in the torchlight, its four great inward curving beams rising up and ending in sharp points. It truly was his masterpiece. He had merged science and magic many times over the years in service to the different sclithe he'd served, but none of his previous experiments rivalled this.

  He picked up a spanner and continued with his work, making sure everything was joined together tightly. It would be embarrassing if one of the beams fell off during its first test run.

  He glanced over at the plain, steel lever on the far wall. The rocky ground beneath him was deceptive. He stood on a large gate. Later, the machine would be lowered down through the gate and presented to Trine. If one of Jackal's Sarpiens messed up he would personally kill them, no matter what the general said.

  Cobra had heard the whisperings in the tunnels about him and Jackal. Everyone was wondering what his play was. They expected him to challenge the general and take his place.

  He chuckled – their childish mentalities amused him. Why should he want the title of general when he already had all the influence and authority he needed?

  As a scientist and magician he already had Lord Trine's ear, and as a bronze warrior able to use the Power, he also had Jackal's favour. Yes, he might have to jump through Jackal's hoops from time to time, but he was right where he wanted to be. Just below the top rung of the ladder was a nice place; one could garner all the benefits without being handed the consequences should something go wrong.

  Cobra finished tightening the last bolt and stood, stretching slowly. It was unusually quiet. He let the spanner clang onto the rocky ground. He wiped the sweat from his yellow-tinted brow and scratched at his short, black hair as he turned to glance around.

  General Red Jackal was once more showing everyone in the tunnels why Trine had chosen him to lead and not another. A raid into East Sector would not normally have been anything out of the ordinary. This one involved the main body of Trine's Sarpiens, however; a force that numbered roughly three hundred. The Dakkonin would have had no choice but to send in reinforcements from outside Steiron in order to counter the attack.

  Cobra chuckled again. While the Dakkonin were doing that, it left Jackal and the small number of warriors he had held back free to roam West Sector at their leisure. It was an obvious ploy, of course, but one the Dakkonin walked straight into again and again. What else could they do? Leave the Sarpien army to wreak havoc?

  Cobra jerked as a shimmering green-white light coalesced a couple of feet away. He grabbed the medallion hanging at his chest and was about to activate it but scowled in disgust instead, realising what the light was. He let go of the medallion as the glowing mist formed into an ethereal, life-size image of the Green Swallow.

  ‘Well, if it isn't the local spy,’ Cobra drawled, covering his surprise.

  The smile she gave him showed great self-satisfaction. ‘Jackal hasn’t got you running around on errands, I see.’

  Cobra allowed himself a tight grin. Swallow hated Jackal with a passion, he wasn't sure why. Then again, Swallow didn't care for anyone. She only tolerated him because she respected his power.

  ‘He doesn’t dare. Lord Trine wants this up and running by tonight.’

  Swallow frowned, looking at the huge, towering structure. ‘What is it for?’

  ‘You’ll find out tonight.’

  Her eyes narrowed dangerously. ‘You’ve told Jackal.’

  Her acid tone amused him but he covered it, giving her a look of insufferable patience, knowing it would irritate her. ‘The Red Jackal is our general,’ he reminded her. ‘He’s also Lord Trine’s favourite, you know that.’

  Even with her wavering, misty form, he could tell she was gritting her teeth. ‘I hear he's called out all the Elite. Have you any idea why?’

  Cobra bent down to pick up his spanner. He knew very well why Jackal had his best aboveground. Perhaps it was fate – those two always ended up in the same place together.

  He considered telling Swallow who Jackal was chasing. The look of stunned amazement would be satisfying. He held his tongue. Those two would play out their scene, just as they always did. No matter the outcome, it was sure to be interesting.

  ‘It's important Jackal finds the boy before the Dakkonin return,’ Cobra said instead.

  Swallow sneered. ‘I can't believe he lost the child to begin with.’

  The moment was gone. Swallow would never know how close she'd come to finding out the most important thing happening in Steiron right now. He looked up at his beloved creation, glistening in the dim light. Today's events were even more important than his experiment. He didn't like to admit that, but it was true. The next forty-eight hours were going to be interesting.

  ‘This isn't just any boy,’ Cobra told her. ‘His potential with the Power, though unrefined, coupled with his youth will bring my machine to full capacity.’

  ‘If the boy was that important, Jackal should have sent out Mantis. He's twice the warrior Jackal is.’

  Cobra chuckled. ‘I wouldn't want Mantis anywhere near the boy. He excels at killing and little else.’

  ‘Mantis is better,’ Swallow insisted. ‘When he makes his move Jackal won't stand a chance.’

  Cobra grinned. ‘He's already made his move, Swallow. Why do you think Mantis hates Jackal so much?’

  She looked greatly surprised. ‘Mantis has already tried for general?’

  ‘Yes, about two months before you joined us. He's had his one run now. If he tries again and fails, Jackal is within his rights to kill him for it.’ He saw her displeased face and chuckled, not bothering to hide his amusement. ‘It's just as well he lost. Mantis is a fool, Swallow. He couldn’t lead a group of Sarpiens if his life depended on it.’

  Swallow scowled at him and blinked out of existence, leaving Cobra on his own again.

  He wondered how long it would be before Swallow made her first strike against Jackal. Every Sarpien was allowed their one shot. If they managed to kill the general then they took his place, if not, the general let them walk away. If a Sarpien tried a second time and failed, nine times out of ten the general would kill them.

  ‘She’s really got it in for Jackal, hasn’t she?’

  Cobra spun around, the spanner falling from his hand as he reached for his medallion. He looked around but could find no one.

  The air in front of him wavered, and Blue Chameleon appeared. The bulky man wore heavy armour, and the eyes of his helmet were overly large.

  Cobra made a startled sound in his throat, seeing the man and the obvious smooth-scaled blue snake on his arm.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ he whispered hoarsely, retrieving his spanner.

  ‘Got a message for you,’ Chameleon walked around Cobra to get a better look at the machine.

  As usual, the heavy laconic warrior didn't waste words.

  ‘Well?’ Cobra asked, becoming irritable when the man didn't continue.

  ‘It’s from Tigermoth.’

  ‘Well, I hardly thought it'd be from the Dakkonin,’ Cobra retorted. ‘Get on with it.’

 
‘She’s concerned that Trine might be trying to rise above himself.’

  Chameleon paused, letting Cobra digest that. The man had obviously already known the sentence would anger him. Tigermoth, general to a blue sclithe, was concerned that Trine, a much larger, green sclithe might be trying to rise above his station? Just once Cobra wished he could deal with a general whose ego wasn't as large as the sclithe they served.

  He gave an audible sigh, not bothering to hide his feelings on the matter. ‘What does she want?'

  ‘She’s heard a few rumours about his plans. She wants you to do something about it.’

  ‘Me?’

  Chameleon held up a hand. ‘She’s aware that you’re Trine’s representative to the other sclithe. She just wants proof of your loyalty.’

  Cobra’s eyes narrowed. ‘Go on.’

  ‘Mistress Sharglin wants Jackal.’

  Cobra stared at him. He moved closer to the Sarpien, watching the entrance carefully for people approaching. It would be the end of his career as a Sarpien if anyone found out he was working for the sclithe Sharglin on the side.

  ‘I can’t do that,’ Cobra whispered. ‘Jackal is a smart man, he’d see it coming a mile off. It would jeopardise my continued service.’ Cobra paused. He knew Sharglin and her general, Silver Tigermoth, wouldn't like hearing that. He had to give them a compromise. ‘I can give you Green Swallow.’

  ‘Swallow?’ Chameleon asked, his voice flat.

  ‘She's a Green,’ Cobra reminded him. ‘There aren't any medallion warriors better at using the Power than a Green.’

  ‘Thank you for stating the obvious,’ Chameleon retorted, his voice dripping sarcasm.

  ‘She's also a sorceress,’ Cobra added. ‘She keeps that piece of information to herself, but I know she has some spell books.’

  ‘Lots of people have spell books,’ the blue Sarpien countered, sounding far from convinced.

  ‘Books about summoning the creatures of the Void?’

  ‘The Void? That's the Dark Arts!’