were.”
“Are there others like us?” I asked.
“You're the first I have found, but I hold out hope of rebuilding our noble order.”
Before I could continue the conversation I saw the magi beginning to stir.
“Help them up, and get them some water,” said Narcion.
As I helped Felix up, he said, “Thanks. There is some food under that conduit there.”
The room was crisscrossed with many random conduits, so it took me a few tries to find the one he meant. Under it I found a stash of food that they had obviously been stockpiling for some time. I started to feel bad about my initial reaction to them. They bore all the signs of people living on the run and they were trapped on the station with no real way to escape. That must wear down a person over time.
Once I had the magi all set up with food and water, I took some for myself. I had lost track of time, but I suspected it had been almost a full day since we arrived.
“I heard a little of your conversation. I don’t know who holds the core, but I can tell you the security on it is impressive. There are multiple energy screens, lines of sentries, and deployed cannons all around it. There is no approaching it from any direction. I doubt even the wraiths could get through,” said Felix.
“Do we have a map of this station?” asked Narcion.
“Yes, here,” said Felix.
“Show me everything you can remember about the defenses,” said Narcion.
Felix and Narcion pored over the map for a while. Narcion drilled him until Felix threw up his hands and said, “Really, that’s all I know!”
“Okay. Then let’s make for here,” he said and pointed to a room on the map.
“The mess hall?” asked Felix.
“Yes. It is above the computer core, and if nothing has changed since you were last there it is undefended.”
“If you are thinking of boring through the floor, we do not have the tools to do that,” said Felix.
“I do. How soon can your men be ready to move out and fight, if need be?” he asked.
“Maybe another hour,” said Felix.
“Zah’rak, scout around this area, and be careful. Make sure no one has moved in while we were sleeping,” said Narcion.
I knew it would be dangerous to split up, but we could not leave the magi until they were able to defend themselves, so one of us would have to stay back while the other scouted. This was the first time he had sent me off alone, and I was not sure if that was a good or a bad sign. I hoped it meant he had greater trust in my abilities.
As I left the room, echoes of our conversation bounced around in my head. What did he mean by “noble order?” And if we’re rebuilding it, what happened to it the first time? Still , it was good to learn I had more weapon options than just a pair of knives.
I swept the area, following the search pattern that Narcion had drilled into me. I knew that the safe passage of our enlarged group would depend on Narcion and I avoiding traps. The magi were powerful in their own way, but they did not seem to have had any stealth or close combat training. I suspected that if we were surprised by an attacker they would not fare well.
As I approached an intersection something felt odd. It was as if the air was tainted, but there was nothing wrong with it. I froze in place and listened, but could not hear anything. Still, the feeling would not go away; there was something wrong ahead, I was sure of it. I checked my weapons to make sure everything was ready and I slowly eased up to the intersection, keeping my profile as small as I could manage. Just before I reached it, I caught a shadow moving. Ambush! I thought to myself.
There was no additional movement, but it was too late for concealment; I had already marked its location. I tossed a stun grenade around the corner and, as soon as it detonated, spun after it. I saw half-a-dozen humans in a well-fortified position. “Narcion, trouble , ” I sent over our personal communication channel as I moved quickly to take their
“Are there others like us?” I asked.
“You're the first I have found, but I hold out hope of rebuilding our noble order.”
Before I could continue the conversation I saw the magi beginning to stir.
“Help them up, and get them some water,” said Narcion.
As I helped Felix up, he said, “Thanks. There is some food under that conduit there.”
The room was crisscrossed with many random conduits, so it took me a few tries to find the one he meant. Under it I found a stash of food that they had obviously been stockpiling for some time. I started to feel bad about my initial reaction to them. They bore all the signs of people living on the run and they were trapped on the station with no real way to escape. That must wear down a person over time.
Once I had the magi all set up with food and water, I took some for myself. I had lost track of time, but I suspected it had been almost a full day since we arrived.
“I heard a little of your conversation. I don’t know who holds the core, but I can tell you the security on it is impressive. There are multiple energy screens, lines of sentries, and deployed cannons all around it. There is no approaching it from any direction. I doubt even the wraiths could get through,” said Felix.
“Do we have a map of this station?” asked Narcion.
“Yes, here,” said Felix.
“Show me everything you can remember about the defenses,” said Narcion.
Felix and Narcion pored over the map for a while. Narcion drilled him until Felix threw up his hands and said, “Really, that’s all I know!”
“Okay. Then let’s make for here,” he said and pointed to a room on the map.
“The mess hall?” asked Felix.
“Yes. It is above the computer core, and if nothing has changed since you were last there it is undefended.”
“If you are thinking of boring through the floor, we do not have the tools to do that,” said Felix.
“I do. How soon can your men be ready to move out and fight, if need be?” he asked.
“Maybe another hour,” said Felix.
“Zah’rak, scout around this area, and be careful. Make sure no one has moved in while we were sleeping,” said Narcion.
I knew it would be dangerous to split up, but we could not leave the magi until they were able to defend themselves, so one of us would have to stay back while the other scouted. This was the first time he had sent me off alone, and I was not sure if that was a good or a bad sign. I hoped it meant he had greater trust in my abilities.
As I left the room, echoes of our conversation bounced around in my head. What did he mean by “noble order?” And if we’re rebuilding it, what happened to it the first time? Still , it was good to learn I had more weapon options than just a pair of knives.
I swept the area, following the search pattern that Narcion had drilled into me. I knew that the safe passage of our enlarged group would depend on Narcion and I avoiding traps. The magi were powerful in their own way, but they did not seem to have had any stealth or close combat training. I suspected that if we were surprised by an attacker they would not fare well.
As I approached an intersection something felt odd. It was as if the air was tainted, but there was nothing wrong with it. I froze in place and listened, but could not hear anything. Still, the feeling would not go away; there was something wrong ahead, I was sure of it. I checked my weapons to make sure everything was ready and I slowly eased up to the intersection, keeping my profile as small as I could manage. Just before I reached it, I caught a shadow moving. Ambush! I thought to myself.
There was no additional movement, but it was too late for concealment; I had already marked its location. I tossed a stun grenade around the corner and, as soon as it detonated, spun after it. I saw half-a-dozen humans in a well-fortified position. “Narcion, trouble , ” I sent over our personal communication channel as I moved quickly to take their
Similar Books
