Chapter 40: 39: ELEVATED

Elias met with Hudson, Agost, and Davies in the bridge of the Silatem cruiser immediately after the crew separated at the carepoint. Surveillance from Hodges' attempt to approach 9819 projected from a master display and the detonation of a multi-level residential building numbered 9002 played in a loop. Thoughts persisted of Adam, alone in Westmont, with both rabid parasite swarms and Jackal—rather, Akil—loose. Elias made sure his worry didn't show.

"That bomb went off just as Hodges entered the quadrant—and that residence is one of the first things you see when you enter from the west," said Agost. "Chain reaction took out the two buildings on either side. Likely that one in the middle held another surprise. Sensors would’ve indicated the presence of an infrared tripwire but none were detected. Debris impedes the road for land function."

"Maybe it was a good ol' piece of string stretched across the road," grumbled Hudson as the surveillance looped once more, after Veratec retreated from the billowing flames. "Somethin' nice and simple."

"Or someone watching and waiting to manually trigger from a nearby vantage point."

"Happened because it was Veratec approaching," said Elias, folding his arms. "Not Silatem."

"I agree, sir. Before we sent bugs into 9819 to retrieve visuals a CDPD cruiser passed over the sector—over 9002—without issue. Maybe the bugs alerted the rebels that we finally discovered their larger plan and they escalated."

"Did the bugs Mr. Noor send out to the other locations piss them off too?" asked Davies.

"Not sure about pissing them off, but the captain was correct in assuming locations numbered with permutations of 9819 would house ether cannisters. I’d gather still more are wired like 9002 and spaced not to trigger the bigger bang unintentionally. It's a spectacle—a show."

"What happens if we approach?"

"He'll detonate," said Elias. "Same with Defense. He set this up meaning for it to succeed on Harvest Day and he's ready to launch. Just wants to make sure he sees me, personally, blasted to pieces for the holiday. That's why he won't run."

Agost manipulated the projection with a gloved hand, a layer of soot and dust visible over his disheveled curls and cropped beard. He summoned Noor's reconnaissance footage of the other locations and traced a finger through each display.

"If Defense responds with just a single airstrike they'll turn Westmont to rubble. 450 millimeter diameter cannisters—another fifty or sixty at least jammed in each—with one of these locations a former elementary school. I see close to three hundred there."

"Shit." Davies peered closer. "How’d he get so many of them without catching Union's attention?"

"If…if he got them without their knowledge," remarked Elias. "With all these insiders remains to be seen."

Agost summoned the map of Westmont on the projection with points highlighted. "Those permutations ended up as expert placements on the town grid," he said. "Perfectly spaced to take Westmont down in another chain reaction. Doesn't matter which one goes off first."

"And if there's no airstrike and no approach to 9819—he'll have something else in mind."

"Did yeh notice the bodies lyin' on the road outside 1899?" said Hudson, pointing at one of the footage loops. "Rabids walkin' past, no interest. Beside ‘em, looks like a dead—"

"Wolf," finished Davies, leaning closer to the projection. "Dead wolf. Mangled. Those people there—they look like they're wearing gear. Rebel gear."

"So they're masked." Elias watched as Hudson expanded the view and moved the bug's visual around to display sprawled figures—maybe ten in total—lying on the road near the boarded up home. "Those are CDPD designs, simple inner cage and a brute force approach to signal blocking. Stolen. That's why there's no feasting."

"Dead rebels," remarked Hudson, narrowing his lids. "Who killed 'em? Not a hunter and not a cop—they'd retrieve the bodies, not leave 'em lyin' out there like that."

"Not Union and not parasites." Davies glanced at Hudson. "Their own kind? Maybe traitors to Sinum?"

"Looks like they were…crushed. Flattened." Hudson lowered his arm and took a step back. "Run over with a land function. That’s personal."

"Punishment for a mutiny." Elias nodded. "That temple, that fizzle…something went wrong. Had to be these types meddling in Jackal's plans that stopped the worst of what he meant to happen there. The sort of defector that helped that girl get to the stage. Jackal left them like roadkill with zero respect but he did mention during our confrontation that he planned for failures. He knows we can shock the circuits of detonators and jammers with our crowd control pulses even if none of his own betrayed him."

"Temple's got to be a bluff," said Hudson. "It's 9819, Captain. Piece of shit's sentimental."

"I have valves ready, sir," said Agost. "I can depressurize those cannisters and drop the ignition point. Safely puncture the barrier for disposal after that, disarm any present explosives if the goal is to detonate that location to set off the others. We can continue to blanket the area with jamming pulses to further disrupt present sensors." Agost shot Elias a meaningful look. "Jackal doesn't seem…to have the support necessary to remotely detonate a point he’s not present at on the chain and face you at the same time. It'll end wherever you meet him."

"Your brother won't get far without a vehicle," added Davies. "He’ll go back to the temple thinking Jackal's gone there too. He doesn’t know a thing about 9819."

"That's right. The only place he'll know to try, where that bastard tortured him and messed with his mind, made that promise for that exchange. We'll have to verify if that’s happening—and fast." Elias gestured at the projection. "Shut down. Suit up. We're leaving in sixty seconds. Set course for the temple. We'll enter through the eastern garden. "

"Aye."

Agost closed the projection and the men separated. Hudson and Davies took the cockpit while Agost kept watch on the cruiser's environmental sensor readings. Elias placed his helmet back on his head and slung his rifle strap onto his shoulder, moving to the navigation panel. He activated a display of Westmont on the flat panel as the vessel sparked to life, scanning the gridlocking paths of city streets.

Data points marking locations holding dangerous amounts of native fuel formed a pattern on the map of an eight-pointed star. Elias frowned as he noted that the temple where Jackal planned the attack to begin, going through a multitude of trouble to draw him to, had no relevance the explosive plan and wasn’t included. 9819, Raia Malmsey's Union home, had no special placement either—just another point in the design. Not even at the center.

"Elevated ether in the atmosphere," said Agost, touching the side of his helmet as he studied the panel in front of him. "Trace amounts. Might be a leak."

Elias glanced at Agost. "Leak from where? The temple's not near any of these storage locations."

"We might be passing by a damaged craft in one of these avenues. Punctured tank probably burning off. Concentration’s comparable. CDPD did report losses in the field and we've been staying low."

"Hm."

"Speaking of CDPD," blared Hudson over their team COMlink. "Looks like we got a straggler 'ere on the radar evacuatin' behind another department craft. Probably the last of Civil's forces. When they leave we're on our own."

"Where are those PHS buses?"

"Long gone, Captain. Must've crossed Kidish Pass already. Can't contact the other cruisers to confirm with this damn counter-interference and weather EMI's no ‘elp. Damn…creepy moons bringin' gloom."

"Copy. ETA?"

"Ninety seconds."

"Go ahead."

The sound of an airborne vessel streaking through the skies made them halt. Elias turned his head up toward the cruiser's displays and a deep, deafening hum reverberated above them. Several thunderous crashes of impact shook the skies, audible even through the cruiser's reinforced exterior. A flash of light sparked.

"Pulse weapon," said Hudson quickly. "We and Defense forces are the only vessels cleared to fire that inside of Union."

"Looks like they loosed six projectiles at once." Davies paused. "That's two from all three cannons on their basic model. Thirty seconds to rearm.

"Elevate," replied Elias. "See what's going on."

He watched the displays as the cruiser's thrusters activated and they found the source of the flash of light as they rose—a vessel kilometers ahead of them streaming fire behind it in the sky.

"Somethin's crash landin’, Captain," Hudson blared over the COMlink. "Headin’ right for Kidish Pass."

"Where's the attacker?"

"Circlin' back—"

"It's Jackal. That girl's on board. No fire on that cockpit. Hit him with the wave before he gets those weapons back. Shock that vessel’s functions."

The cruiser streaked to quick action as Hudson navigated the skies. Elias summoned a projection and followed their progress as he listened to Hudson and Davies announce their actions—a CDPD cruiser was headed right for them, locked on and within range. They fired. The infrared pulse hit the cruiser and they evaded a direct ram as the cruiser circled them again, though—Silatem fired another disrupting wave.

Their vessel evaded again, awaiting another attempt by the disrupted CDPD cruiser to fire. Hudson glided out of line only to watch the Civil Defense craft turn about-face and speed away. Hudson rose to follow, accelerating slightly before slowing, and Silatem watched through the display panels as the vessel circled the glass top of the temple without pursuing.

"What's 'e doin'?" grumbled Hudson as he approached, keeping distance from the CDPD vessel as it turned to face them and hovered directly over the glass roof for a prolonged moment.

"Ah, fuck," said Davies, tense. "Jackal. He's gonna—"

The CDPD craft abruptly deactivated its thrusters, plummeting immediately with instant high velocity and shattering through the dome. Rumbles followed as more of the temple's exterior crumbled from the impact. The rubble collapsed onto the surrounding gardens, exposing the rotunda’s inner tier structure.

"Shit!" spat Davies, approaching the display panels. “Temple’s had it now!”

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"Get over there," said Elias, peering at the streaming visuals from the bow of their vessel. "See if you can follow him."

"Doubt it, Captain," said Hudson as he shifted the cruiser forward and zipped toward the temple. "Those five thousand square meters includes the roundabout walkway on the main floor. Maybe if we crush the cruiser—"

"No."

Hudson reached the temple and circled the broken glass dome, transmitting visuals of the scene through their display. Smoke and rain occluded their view but even from their height Elias could see the flash of vessel's thrusters igniting again, hovering within the rotunda as it settled. He shook his head.

"He destroyed those students on the way down,” remarked Elias bitterly. “We can't ID them now."

"Captain," said Agost. "Jackal's plan all along was to destroy everything, including the remainders of those students. This is expected. And difficult."

"Right." Elias turned his attention back to the navigation display. "He knows we're here and not at 9819. Adam's sure to barrel through this mess as well." He exhaled discreetly inside of his helmet. "Commander, set us down adjacent to the 100 block. We're going in."

"Aye, sir," replied Hudson.

A moment later Davies reported on the line. "ETA thirty seconds."

Elias counted the remaining time, peering at the cruiser's progress on the radar in relation to the map. The indicator in his helmet synced with the cruiser's sensor systems and blipped a warning of increased ether in the atmosphere. He turned to Agost and the commander's helmet moved in his direction.

"I saw that one," said Elias. "Levels are increasing after that dome broke."

"Different kind of leak," replied Agost. "Maybe intentional for the swarms. Replenishes their strength now that the availability of humans is dramatically decreased."

"Jackal feedin' the stock," said Hudson. "Feedin' 'imself too. The bastard'll be more in touch with whatever won't let 'im die. ‘opped up."

Agost nodded. "Aye. He probably got some of that ether to use as intended. You need to be prepared for rabid, supernatural behavior and…rabid, supernatural strength, Captain."

"I am," said Elias.

Hudson announced their landing and Davies verbally logged their coordinates while Elias moved away from the display panel, checking his sidearms and supplies before strapping a tomahawk to the side of his torso. Every contract through Union legally required a goal of live capture to be listed as Silatem's primary intent, however there were safeguards in place should their target expire during a hunt. In regards to Silatem's latest hostile target, Elias expected to run into complications.

The hunters exited the cruiser, leaving it sealed along a side street with maximum stealth activated. Steady, gentle rain misted their armor as they passed rows of abandoned and boarded store fronts. Parasites littering the road stumbled with new purpose, sensing elevated levels of ether in the air. The temple loomed ahead, blooming smoke from fires tempered by moisture in the air, and more of the undead creatures appeared the closer they approached. Elias engaged the team link.

"Ether's definitely coming from the temple," he said. "These rabids are marching over there like zombies."

"Junkies need a fix," Hudson noted.

"We should locate the source. The temple's holding dormant explosive material and it's in bad shape. Could be another surprise hiding there even if we didn't note any cannisters during the rescue. Especially if there are discreet methods to get around."

“Aye.”

They reached the wide avenue that encircled a cluster of municipal buildings, of which Temple Westmont and its surrounding gardens stretched across the forefront to cover a third of the wide rectangular block. Elias halted at the intersection and glanced in either direction, up and down streets that were quiet except for ambient growls and hisses of searching parasites.

"Swarms," he said, slinging his rifle aside to pull another NAV bug out of his utility belt. "Half click away, north and south." He synced to the small flying device once it activated. "Should be able to maintain a live link of the interior if we stay close."

"Let’s ‘ope yer brother didn't mess with any of those 'elmet functions," remarked Hudson. "Not the place to make rookie mistakes."

"I'm 100% certain he's messed with the functions," replied Elias. "At least he can't access configurations to fuck up the full-stealth settings. Not with the failsafe and not without credentials. I'll give him credit and assume he knows what off and on looks like."

"Boy's one of yers. ‘e'll be fine."

"Sure."

The NAV bug beeped upon receiving route instructions and zipped off towards the temple. Elias noted the bug's flight on his visor display, although the stream disappeared as soon as the bug infiltrated the temple.

"And…feed's gone," he muttered as they cleared the avenue. "Nothing's going easy tonight."

They crossed through the archway gate leading into the eastern garden and rain glistened on the artificial plants inside. A larger number of parasites lumbered through the disheveled plots, at least twenty that Elias could spot outside of the hedge maze snaking around the wall to the north, with more sure to be lingering nearby. They slowed as they approached the emergency exit and found the structure collapsed there as well, obstructing entry. Elias halted the hunters, surveying the damage.

"Have to find another way inside."

"Let's just blast through," said Hudson. "Doesn't look too bad."

"Might cave more of the wall after Jackal’s landing," replied Elias. "We don't want to weaken the temple any further--not to mention set off another hidden explosive in this mess."

"South side entry’s barred too." Davies gestured toward the south with his rifle, his gearsuit glistening in the damp exterior. "We might've lucked out during that showdown but the temple's not gonna make it."

"We're going north. Head through that maze. Break the hedges if you have to."

The men circled back, heading deeper into the eastern garden. Elias led the way and passed between twin lions sculpted out of wilting polymer leaves and flowers. The height of the hedges, about chest-level to Elias, swallowed their bodies as they ran.

He made no attempt to follow the pattern even though he remembered it from when he was a kid—when lost, keep right within the spiralling designs. He and his mother used to clear the huge maze in Capitol Altir for Harvest every year until he was ten and two of those years John had managed to make it too. Now, Elias barreled through the obstacles with ease instead of pursuing the route through, the hedges splitting apart at the crush of his armor.

The NAV bug's live feed flickered back into view on his visor. He enlarged the visual with a command, surveying the visual data that the bug was capturing live. Parasites shuffled through dim hallways, a large number of them judging by the overhead view, as the NAV bug kept discreet and flew high.

The bug descended gradually to obtain a visual of the CDPD cruiser in the center of the rotunda. A black shadow enveloped the bug, sending the feed back to complete darkness. After a few seconds Elias heard a beep of the ended transmission.

"Caught that," said Hudson as they neared the end of the maze, bordered by another two topiary statues, this time of a pair of seated falcons. "Swear it looked like something grabbed it."

"Might be Jackal," said Elias. "But not sure how he'd find that thing so fast. Bug's too small."

"Did you hear something?" Davies stopped short, causing the men to slow as well. His helmet turned to the broken hedge they'd left behind. "Sounded like a—"

"Lieutenant," growled Hudson. "If you say wolf again I will become a fucking wolf and hunt you."

"It's right there, sir. Sounds like one and looks like one too."

Davies aimed his rifle and took a step back. A black, lupine figure slunk around the corner of the broken hedge fifteen meters away, swollen with visible rampant infection, fur bristling wild with sharp panting jaws bared. A second appeared immediately after, and through the row of broken hedges behind them more quadruped shadows ambled through the garden. Elias turned his head when a shriek came from the area near the falcons, the shuffling footsteps became running ones.

"Stealth's faltering," said Agost, taking aim at the wolves as well. "Must be this latest evolution able to pick up our armor activity. Need a new chart of calibrations. At least we’ve got a baseline for hostile reaction to log in the bait feeds."

"I did that earlier, the calibration. They're acting stranger than before. More…observant than usual. It’s that damn drug. Has to be."

"Perhaps the elevated ether levels also have an effect on that drug's reactions."

"Like I said," muttered Hudson. "Bastards are ’opped up."

"Maybe a rabid took down the bug," said Davies. "If they're more aware of fluctuations now. Those things emit energy, even if it’s trace."

"Hm." Elias glanced at Davies for a moment before continuing his corrections. "Maybe."

Elias adjusted the distortion as the hunters responded to the wolves with several quick and expert headshots. Davies followed with a takedown of a parasite charging them from the north and finished it with a stake through both the head and heart, leaving the unterminated body on the ground.

The swarm from the street gradually located them within the maze and they continued controlling the advance while Elias narrowed a cluster of electromagnetic waves that succeeded in stopping the creatures in their tracks as if he'd disappeared from their view. He glanced at the fallen bodies, both the humanoid and wolf ones, as he extended his adjustments to the team's defenses via COM. They regrouped and Elias pushed a parasite standing dumbfounded beside him out of the way. He signaled to the hunters to continue and they headed north toward the temple.

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