Reality's Plaything 4: Savants Ascendant Read online

  They continued across the plaza, the only sounds coming from the soft foot-falls of the team as they made their way across, the hiss of cloth and creak of armor.

  Bannor stared at the place through his thread-sight. The threads of the Kriar Homeworld were so strange. He found many of the threads he saw on a normal world, but they looked and felt different. Though he didn’t see anything to give any alarm, something felt wrong—out of place. Was it a sound? Or a sensation?

  He stopped, knelt and pressed the palm of his hand against the stone flags.

  **Forward team, hold up,** Bannor heard Marna’s voice in his ear. **Bannor stopped.**

  He glanced up. He saw Tal’s team had paused a short distance away. Dulcere raised her chin. Standing next to the Kriar, Daena wore a concerned expression, her brow furrowed.

  He drew a breath, meeting the Kriar’s dark eyes. He focused again on his hand and the strange sensation. There was a vibration there, but his thread sense said the physical sensation was merely machinery beneath their feet—air moving. The thing making him uneasy was something else.

  He raised a closed fist and shook his head. He stood.

  Dulcere gestured her team ahead with a swing of her weapon.

  Tal frowned. He spun his sword, his head turning as he looked for possible enemies.

  Dominique closed with him, her shoulder brushing his.

  **What was it?** Marna asked in his ear.

  He looked back at her. Unsure of how to send the message without speaking aloud, the way she and Aarlen apparently could. He shrugged and frowned.

  The Kriar’s brow furrowed.

  Perhaps a half breath further, they were nearing the far side of the dome. The sound of running water muted their footsteps. A narrow canal wound its way around the gardens on this side. Tal headed for the nearest bridge spanning the gap.

  The uneasiness became a pulse in the back of his skull. Damn not being able do it quietly. Something bad was afoot. He thumbed the comm. “Tal, hold up!”

  The warrior froze with his foot hovering over the bridge.

  Water always had a tremendous number of threads associated with it. So many kinds of tiny creatures lived in water and gave the liquid an appearance of being alive. The water tended to obscure other things in it. There was something else… something out of place near that bridge, near one of the stubby posts supporting the walkway.

  Was it something—or a lack of it?

  Bannor didn’t wait any longer to act. He swung his hand, raking his nola power through all the threads underneath the bridge. When he hit resistance he clamped down and yanked.

  Tal was poised and questioning what was going on when there was an eruption of sparks as something splashed through the water and slammed against the cobbles in shriek of metal on stone.

  Stealth armor, like the stuff Quasar had been using, perhaps even better because he hadn’t even seen the threads to give it away.

  **Spit,** Aarlen yelled. **Incoming!**

  The members of the team became a blur of motion as lances of energy began stabbing down into the plaza. Before he had a chance to move Dominique leaped in front of him and fended aside a massive blast of power that deflected from her crossed swords and created a smoking trench in the stone with a roar.

  **Dark, they have phalanx suits,** Eclipse snarled. He dived and rolled, the big weapon shrieked as it made the walls of the dome erupt.

  Bannor unholstered the Mark VI, cranked the power three fourths of the way up, and aimed at a spot high on the dome wall that was empty of threads. He pulled the trigger. The weapon trilled, kicked in his hand, and a bolt of energy smashed the surprised creature back against the wall, making it tumble from the high perch and crash into stone cobbles some twenty paces below.

  He stared at the gun. Terra was right. The little thing was more than impressive!

  “Frell,” Dominique let out. She deflected another blast with a grunt. The energy hit the area beside them in a blast of heat and rain of pebble sized debris. “You can see them? How many are there?”

  “Can’t tell. I’m only catching glimpses of them,” he called back. Bannor heard a snarl behind him and he glanced back. Damay was on one knee doubled over as if in pain. Idun lay on the ground. Smoke rose from her shoulder where one of the energy blasts had obviously struck her.

  “Mother!” Euriel cried out.

  The goddess pushed to her feet. Fire ignited in her eyes and a white glow surrounded her. Her skin turned from pale to a metallic looking sheen and she expanded in size with a crackling sound.

  “Spit,” Aarlen let out, staggering back from the powerful pantheon lord.

  Idun raised her arms over her head and a globe of dark radiance gathered between her outstretched hands. Several blasts came at her but the energy glanced from her body.

  She stepped back from the black globe which hung in the air like a dark mirror, threads and elemental power spinning around it. The goddess aimed a glowing fist in the direction of where the shots seemed to be coming from. “Come cowardly spawn of Friggia. Let us do real battle.” She made a clawing motion in the air, then swung her arms down as if slamming something to the ground.

  Sparks whirled around the goddess, hot air gusted and lightning crackled and flashed. With a shriek, six glowing figures poured out of the dark spot, slamming down at her feet so hard the cobbles shook underfoot.

  Bannor didn’t wait for the stunned Kriar to react, but snatched up their threads and heaved, sending them skittering across the stone. “Get them!” Bannor yelled. He sent a rasp of will through their threads causing sparks and flashes of energy to flare and dance around each opponent’s body.

  With obvious targets to deal with, the assault team focused on the attackers with vicious efficiency. Gun blasts, magic, and swords hammered the rogue Kriar with brutal power.

  In only instants, the plaza was silent except the fizzling of dying artifices and the rasp of heavy breaths.

  “Damn,” Tal grunted. “Glad she’s on our side.”

  The three Kriar were staring at the goddess with wide eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Euriel asked her mother.

  Idun growled, she sniffed and kicked one the armored bodies at her feet. She rubbed the still smoking burn in her shoulder. She drew a breath and returned to her smaller pale-skinned form with flash of crackling magic. “I will manage,” Idun said. “These weapons,” she nudged the long weapon the Kriar attacker had been holding. “They have surprising power.”

  The goddess turned to Damay who was still on her knees face screwed up in a mask of pain and helped the little woman to her feet. “My thanks, Sister. I would have taken a worse hit if not for your shield. Let me lend you strength.” The goddess’ hands glowed, and a sheen of greenish light spread down Damay’s body.

  The elder savant straightened and shook her head. “Aie. Thank you. My apologies for not being more effective. I was not prepared for the strike to be so strong.” She drew a breath and shuddered. “I will know better in the future.”

  “From now on, you will have my strength to sustain you,” Idun responded with a nod. She growled at looked around to the others. “Devil the wretch that forced us to come here. Her pain will be most exquisite.”

  Bannor saw Eclipse swallow. His expression turned very grim.

  “Lady Idun,” Marna said. “I understand your anger. I must request that you do not kill Quasar. We will have need of her.”

  Idun turned burning eyes on Marna. “One cannot experience pain when they are dead.”

  “Let’s move on,” Eclipse said. “I’ve notified security to come pick these traitors up.”

  Shaking their heads, the teams gathered up and moved toward the exit on the far side of the plaza.

  “I found your performance quite impressive,” Dominique said, keeping pace with Bannor. The woman had a mesmerizing voice, deep and syrupy. “This is the first I’ve seen your power first hand.”

  He nodded. “I’m learning. Thanks for your de
fense.”

  “You heard Aarlen,” she grinned. “That’s my job.”

  He looked to the young savant. “You okay, Daena?”

  The girl nodded.

  The three teams moved at a quick pace. Tal opened the huge vault-like doors that lay on the far side. The giant metal valves slid aside with a hiss, revealing a broad corridor easily wide enough for four carriages to comfortably travel side by side. The ceiling of the walkway had been constructed of a clear material that allowed them to see up and out into the vast interior structure of Homeworld. A half dozen steps in were the moving walkways like they had seen in the way-point. The air smelled of strange things that Bannor did not recognize, it reminded him of some kind of incense but doubted that was what it was. The place was so quiet, only the vaguely metallic grind of the walkway’s movement made any sound.

  Eclipse shut the massive valves behind them. The metal came together with a boom. At his gesture that their rear was secure, Tal stepped up on the moving walkway. Loric, Terra, and Desiray waited a few moments before following suit. Daena and Dulcere went next leaving an even spacing. Bannor gave them a five count and stepped onto the moving contraption.

  Dominique took a position right behind him and stepped beside him, blades resting on her shoulders.

  “Lady Dominique, might I ask a favor?”

  “Of course,” she responded. “And just call me Dom, we’re team mates.”

  “As you wish,” he said with a nod. He tapped the device around his neck. “I was unable to signal the others without talking aloud. Could you show me how Aarlen and Marna are able to speak silently?”

  “Oh certainly,” she said. “Here unclip the band.” She sheathed her swords and unclasped the neckband from around his throat. “The skill implant wasn’t working because you couldn’t see it.” She put it in his hand. “Now, look at it and say ‘sub-vocal’.”

  “Sub vocal,” he murmured. His hand went instinctively to a slide on the side of the collar. “Telepathic synchronis. Multicast. Cybernetic enhancement. Secure communications…” The words flowed into his mind, and some of their meanings. He touched the controls that operated those functions.

  He blinked. Controls. That was the name for all those things that he kept calling ‘gems’ in his head. They were controls or more specifically buttons. So bizarre.

  He clipped the neckband back on and slid the subvocal slider into position, then focused on the band and told it to synchronize.

  He heard a crackle in his ear that gradually seemed to become words. **Test, test, test…** He pressed the accept control on the band. **Synchronization complete.**

  **Team broadcast,** he spoke silently. **Now can I talk without giving everyone away?**

  **Acknowledged,** Aarlen said.

  **Team one leader reads you,** Dulcere answered.

  **Team three leader clear,** Eclipse responded.

  Dominique gave him a clenched fist sign of approval.

  “Thank you. I hate being a plebe.”

  She leaned her head to one side, and looked at him sidelong. “You’re fine.” She glanced up through the crystal above into the massive interior of Homeworld, then looked back to Marna and smiled. The ancient Kriar leader smiled back and nodded.

  Bannor felt a brief hitch in his chest, recognizing something familiar—something human.

  “Counsel Solaris is somebody special to you?” he asked.

  Dominique turned golden eyes on him. Her pale skin flushed for a moment. She grinned. “Aye.”

  If he was any judge she was more than special. “Perhaps you would feel better guarding her than me.”

  The dark-haired woman shook her head. “Not to worry, she has defenses you wouldn’t dream of. That attack back there was meant for her—if you noticed, she wasn’t touched. You have no such protection, Aarlen knows her business.”

  He nodded. “As long as you’re comfortable with it, I know what it’s like not to be able to protect someone you love.”

  Dominique reached out and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “I appreciate the sentiment. You’re a good guy, it’s no wonder they…” She leaned close. “Both love you.”

  He winced. “Is it that obvious?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been in a love triangle or three… I know the look. That girl Daena…” She drew a breath. “Quite a handful.”

  Bannor gave a weary nod.

  “Be careful of her,” Dominique advised. “I can tell she’s not the kind that will give up—and she’s going to live a long time.”

  Dominique was right on that count.

  “I can’t do anything about it,” he growled in a whisper. “I’ve never done anything to encourage it except be nice to her.”

  The dark haired woman shook her head. “Girl that age, that’s all it takes. Do you want some advice?”

  He rolled his eyes. “What?”

  She tugged on his sleeve and he met the woman’s golden eyes. “You need to take her seriously. That girl isn’t desperate because you aren’t married yet. She still thinks she has a chance.”

  “How do you know—you just met us.”

  She smiled and for the first time he noticed that she had fangs. “Call me an expert on charms. If you don’t want a lot of heartbreak, you need to find someone else for her to focus on.”

  Bannor shook his head. “You jest. No chance. I am absolutely no good at that sort of thing.”

  “Assuming we live,” she looked around. They were nearing the end of the journey down the long corridor. “Hire someone. Since the Felspars are hanging around and you know Wren. Get her to introduce you to Dorian. She specializes in just that sort of thing.”

  “In love triangles?” he said with an incredulous tone.

  “In getting out of trouble. Because, friend, you’re in a lot of trouble—you just don’t realize it yet. That girl has a claw in you, and she’s going to start reeling you in soon. Even though she’s just a baby, she’s smart, and powerful. It’s not wise to play with the heart of a goddess.” She glanced back to Idun. “Trust me.”

  He gave Dominique a weary nod. Why did everything have to be so complicated? He had thought that Daena was over him, but there had been hints recently of her renewed interest. The most insane thing was that he was worrying about it now, when they were getting ready to confront what might be the biggest battle of their lives.

  Tal reached the end of the long passage and worked at the mechanism to open the doors for a few moments. The massive valves grated open, revealing what might be a large thoroughfare or market. There appeared to be what looked like shops with display windows, curbs and what were obviously streets for carriages or whatever the things were that Kriar used. Despite being what looked like a fully appointed city, the place seemed empty and dead.

  Nothing moved.

  A hundred million worlds of space, and simply not enough creatures to fill the areas.

  **Left turn,** Eclipse advised from the rear. **Turn right at the second intersection.**

  **Got it,** Tal acknowledged. **Tac leader, should I be still be watching for Daergons?**

  **Affirmative, point One,** Eclipse broadcast.

  **Grrreat.**

  The team filed down the silent streets, furtively glancing up and cautiously crossing openings between the shop structures. Ziedra and Radian floated along a few paces above the ground at the back of the group. The dark-haired savant held a staff in her hands now. When did she get that? He guessed if the other team members could summon weapons, she could too. She was a savant of magic after all.

  Tal started to round the corner, stopped, and pulled back. **Hold up.**

  Everyone immediately hugged the walls and hunkered down. Dominique pulled out her swords and began looking around.

  **Tac leader,** Tal said. **Are there any units supposed to be in the area?**

  **Negative, point One.**

  **These guys don’t feel like the last bunch, and I can smell ‘em.**

  Bannor stretched out his no
la senses toward the street. There were indeed tangles of life forces. He guessed about a score, it was tough to tell reading through the threads of energy wound through the buildings and structures between them and the possible enemy. They were indeed different and did not feel like Kriar. His next thought was they might be Baronians but these creatures did not seem to possess magic either.

  **They aren’t Kriar or Baronians,** Bannor broadcast.

  Loric moved up until he was at Tal’s shoulder. **Marna did you have this area locked down?**

  **Negative,** the counsel responded. **We haven’t had time.**

  Desiray slid up next to her husband. **I’ll scout ahead.** She pulled up the hood of her cloak and vanished.

  Bannor blinked. That was a nice trick!

  **Wiz,** he heard Daena murmur on the comm. link.

  Though Desiray was not visible, Bannor could follow the tangle of magic and life energy he knew to be the white-haired woman. She drifted up the street. After a period of about a long breath, Desiray sighed on the comm. **Damn, it’s just peepers. They must have followed us from the market. Move up, but be careful in case hostiles are using them as a screen.**

  **How did they get here ahead of us?** Bannor asked.

  **With people who are so new to Homeworld we can’t move around in the fastest transit systems.**

  Tal moved forward at a cautious trot still keeping against the wall furthest from the observers. Loric and Terra followed behind him. Daena and Dulcere stopped at the corner to watch their progress, proceeding around when it seemed safe.

  **Damn, can’t believe we’re getting jumpy over a bunch of spectators.**

  **What do they expect to see?** Euriel asked.

  **What do they hope to see?** Eclipse broadcast. **Tragedy.**

  Bannor followed Dulcere and Daena, moving as they did close to the walls on the far side of the street. Dominique stayed right behind him, her swords at the ready. As they neared an intersection where Desiray still waited cloaked in her magic, he saw the ‘spectators’. He guessed about a twenty of them stood at the street side, dressed in various colors. They didn’t seem hostile, and there were no weapons among them. The creatures weren’t Kriar though there were some similarities. Some had gold skin like the Kriar, but not the eyes. Males and females they watched with intent expressions. Even with his thread sight these creatures were tough to read.