Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Dust danced lightly in the wind, tumbling from the sea of dunes as the furious heat of the sun punished any life in sight. Mostly a sparse collection of pitiful vegetation which clung desperately to the earth wherever it could. The uniform desert was broken only by the scattering of rocky outcroppings temporarily freed from the layers of sand, and the rare stony mesas which stood alone across the endless dunes.

Atop one of those mesas was a dark figure, a black speck in a sea of yellow sands and red stones. They were wearing a full body suit, a hood covered their head, shading their eyes, while a mask concealed the rest of their face. Resting by their side was a spear with a long quarter moon blade.

The figure was sitting on a rock, resting with head in hand. Their gaze fixed on a distant point, a glimmer of white shimmering in the sun. They were approached by a man in a white robe with a covered head. He had olive skin, and a somewhat rectangular face common to men from Duroterra.

“Reaper,” the man said. The black figured stirred but didn’t turn to face him. “We’ve… got something.”

“You sound confused, Virgil,” Reaper said.

“Do you remember the ping on the World Net you asked us to keep an eye on?” Virgil said. “Well, we got a huge spike of activity in the same area.”

“Ah, he finally made his move. Have you prepared the helicopter?”

“Yes, but, the thing is, we just got another hot zone on a different continent.” Virgil laughed. “Go figure, the World Net’s quiet for months, and it picks right now to go wild.”

“You think this a coincidence?” Reaper slid off the boulder to their feet, still gazing into the distance. “What are you up to you old bastard?”

 

---

 

“Is she really a Tag Hunter?” Chandra said. She was kneeling next to the woman Hitori found. The stranger had dark skin, the mark of a Southerner. Her hair was a deep shade of blue with the tips dyed to look like fire. Chandra touched it and added, “Do you think this is a normal color down south?”

“I’m not certain there is anything normal about her,” Hitori said, scrunching his nose. The woman seemed a little too grungy for a few days in the forest. He silently cursed whichever Nova founder decided to train even the students’ sense of smell. There was such a thing as being too thorough. Maybe that’s why the spiders saved her for last? “Better wake her. Hopefully she can pull her own weight.”

Chandra lay a hand over the woman’s shoulder, a faint glow radiated from beneath her fingertips. After a second the woman shot up, head butting Hitori, and yelling in the Southern language. Hitori only studied it briefly, so he wasn’t able to make it out. She seemed to be swearing, at least. She backed away, before locking eyes with Hitori.

“Ah, you. Not spider?” The woman said in the Seitojin language.

“We’re mercenaries from Nova,” Hitori said in a different language. Mairtalan, from the city of Mairtala which shared a continent with Nova Academy.

“Oh, good,” The woman responded in kind, her words more confident. “Just to let you know, I can’t pay for my rescue.”

Hitori laughed. “I think it’s too late to discuss the terms.” He smiled. “This one’s on the house. I’m Hitori, by the way.”

“Newton.” She held out her hand. “Newton Tuem.”

Hitori helped her to her feet, and very quickly shared the names of the others in the clearing.

“Aaah, I’ll try to remember them all,” Newton said with a sheepish grin. “And double special thanks to you Chandra.”

“Oh good, all you chumps are finally awake,” Bridget said. She had been checking on his other teammates and approached when Newton started yelling.

“It took like a minute!” Hitori said.

“A minute we don’t have. The metafauna backed off for now, but they’re regrouping outside the clearing. At any moment they’ll launch a final assault. Judging by the sound, I can’t hold them off and keep you alive at the same time.”

“Then we’d better get out of here. Is that hole where I came in still open.”

“It is, so it’s a great place to get ambushed.”

“True, but if we have Protius punch through right next to it, we’ll catch them off guard.”

“That would be a great plan, if your Arteficer hadn’t shed his whole malhahonic web when he got knocked out.”

Hitori frowned.

“That’s what you get for going easy on him,” Bridget said. “Hell, on your whole team. No spare weapons, burnt most of their VF from the venom—“

“Yeah, yeah, save the lecture for later.”

“Hey, I brought a spare,” Gordon said. He remained nearby after Chandra resuscitated him, keeping watch on the canopy above. “Can even handle making that hole.”

“Gordon,” Bridget said. She made it sound like an insult.

“Princess.”

“Will you two stop glaring at each other,” Hitori said, rotating Gordon away from Bridget. “You have something.”

“Sure, remember Andi?” Gordon said, holding up a strangely decorated pistol. It was the one he stirred up trouble with last night.

“There is so much wrong with— never mind. Just get ready, we’re going to bust out of here.”

“Ah, well,” Gordon laughed weakly. “Takes about a minute to charge.”

“Then get on it! Bridget, can you and Ms. Athens take the lead.”

“I think she should take an orbital,” Bridget said.

“Fine by me,” Hitori said. That position would have their instructor patrolling in a wide circle around their formation. If he was being honest, he would be even happier if she took a position back at school. The murky forest gave her an air of eldritch horror, of sudden, inescapable death in the shadows. Hitori was scared enough of her already.

“Then form up!”

Hitori left Bridget to handle her end and set out to arrange his own teammates. Gordon and Elvira would take the flanks, protecting Chandra and Protius in the center. Bridget at the front meant Hitori would watch behind. He wasn’t sure where to put Newton.

“Are you any good in a fight?” Hitori asked her.

“I was a volunteer in the militia,” Newton said, then smiled. “It was a great place to test my inventions.”

“Good? So, are you armed? Do you have all your techs in order?” Hitori said.

“Um, no?” Newton said. Hitori eyed her warily. “I mean, I am armed, but I don’t know what a tech is, to be honest.”

“Can you fight or not then?”

“Yes, I can fight!” Newton stomped her foot. “I have my artificial… hard light? Crap, words. Stars, never mind. It’ll be easier to show you.”

Newton pulled a silver stone from a pouch on her suspenders. Its surface was smooth, and a shimmer escaped from deep inside. She tapped the device on one of her bracelets then tossed it on the ground. The light intensified, and the stone bubbled up as it melted into a small puddle.

Rather than pop, the protrusions took on a definite shape and the whole thing ascended into the air. In a few seconds, it finished its transformation into a pudgy little pugilist. It resembled a stuffed animal. Newton tapped her bracelets together and struck a boxer pose. The figure matched her stance.

“Check it out!” Newton beamed, throwing a few jabs with accompanying punch sounds. The toy fighter imitated her strikes. “Pretty cool, huh? I’m thinking of calling it a Summon Arte.”

“Can you guard someone with that?” Hitori asked. Newton nodded, forcing her face into a serious shape. “Good, then hold the center with Chandra and Protius, and cover Gordon on the right.”

“Yokay!” Newton pirouetted once and saluted, in synch with her chubby battle companion. She bounced off to join the center group.

That was everyone in position, so all that was left was for Gordon to finish whatever he was doing with ‘Andi’, which appeared to be whispering sweet nothings to it while he cradled it in his hands, then they could finally get out of here.

Hitori was concerned he had no idea why the Canopy Weavers went to such lengths to attack his team. They didn’t usually hunt near the borders of the Wychwood. Hitori was about to yell at Gordon to hurry when he was struck by a thought.

Why did Bridget imply the creatures were targeting him specifically?

“Hitori!”

He reacted without thinking, diving left and farther from the tree line. He turned in time to watch one of the blade like front legs of a Weaver slide past his face. It connected below his ribcage with enough force to shatter a few myriaite plates and drive him into the ground. The spike wedged itself into the other side of his armor.

Looking up, Hitori saw the giant spider attached to the sword. Its body was tense, with beady yellow eyes fixed on his own with animal ferocity. He was locked in the moment, a split second away from the next strike that would surely aim straight for his head. Behind the first Weaver was a half dozen others, each bearing down with glowing eyes.

A glimmer of red shined from out of sight, a lance of crimson flame stretching across his vision towards the lead attacker. When it connected, a massive explosion of fiery mist erased the spider with overwhelming speed and a terrible roar. Three more followed in half as many seconds, rupturing the canopy above. The smoke dispersed to reveal a clear path to the sky. The sudden influx of sunlight was blinding.

Hitori looked up to see Gordon standing, his pistol in hand with wisps of red mist lazily smoldering from patterns on the side. A Canopy Weaver dangled above him, desperately trying to scramble past the floating silver figure that held it aloft. Newton was kneeling over backwards, orientated the same as her summoned fighter.

Before Gordon could deal with his own problem, the spider slipped enough through to get an attack in. Gordon was run through the shoulder then tossed aside like a rag doll. The rest of the party was engaged with a mix of Canopy Weavers and a pack of Lupins.

Hitori couldn’t afford to sit around. He yanked the jagged spider leg from his abdomen and tossed it aside. His Vital Net only slowed the bleeding, saving the last vestiges of energy to maintain itself. If it collapsed it would be days before it reformed.

With his body on the brink, Hitori wouldn’t be firing off techs any time soon. Which was a shame, he could use a half dozen Blitzes about now. Newton still hadn’t dealt with the spider that tagged Gordon, and the rest of his team was struggling with a handful of opponents. Bridget was in a standoff with almost a dozen creatures, whereas Ms. Athens was nowhere to be seen.

Hitori spent a second scanning the ground in hopes he’d see the Dragon Stims he lost earlier.

No such luck. It was hopeless, but he had to try something. He struggled to his feet, ignoring the splatter of blood on the ground, then lurched towards Elvira. Perhaps she could borrow an arte from Protius. Before he made it two steps, Hitori felt something dragging him backwards.

For a panicked moment he thought a Canopy Weaver dropped in when he turned away and hit him with its webbing attack. But, actually… the feeling was entirely within his mind? Had he forgotten something? Perhaps discovered something in his subconscious?

He turned around and gave the scene behind him a thorough look. There were the dead metafauna he inexplicably killed earlier, the row of cocoons his team was trapped in, and—

Wickham.

Right now the hideous half spider statue had the same hateful glare as the Canopy Weavers. The same hateful, yellow—his heart jumped in his chest, tension clawed through his body.

Their eyes were supposed to be black.

Studying Wickham, Hitori was struck by an uncanny sensation. Like there was a subtle shift in a scene once burned into his soul. Was something different from when he’d been dragged in front of that terrible spider the first time?

He couldn’t think of anything substantial, but nevertheless his gaze was drawn to a wooden limb growing from Wickham’s shattered body. It was the only one stretched out, like it was reaching for something.

Hitori slowly approached the grasping arm and studied the point where it touched the ground. It gripped a large stone buried in the ground. A hairline fracture could be spied in a gap between the twisted fingers.

If he severed the branch, would the metafauna stop attacking?

A crazy idea, but oddly compelling. He began to hack at the root, chipping away the hardened bark. If he could muster the energy for even one tech the job would be done in an instant. Instead he worked with frantic slashes. Hitori wondered if he lost his mind.

His arms burned with effort, a rare sensation on Esper. The sense of futility increased in equal measure to the pain in his limbs. Hitori drew another ragged breath, was he making any—

A silver shape blurred across his vision, and the root exploded into a shower of splinters. The clawed end of the false limb dragged a chunk of crumbling earth and stone into the air, then tumbled apart on the ground.

Hitori toppled forward, twisting to face behind as he fell, landing on his butt. His hand bounced off a piece of loose wood. Newton was standing a moderate distance away, poised at the end of a powerful haymaker. Her clothes had several gore stained gashes, a line of blood ran down her cheek and neck, dripping onto the dirt.

Ah, I like this one. Why don’t you team up with her?

The metafauna backed off, an air of concern and confusion permeated their ranks. They looked to have woken from a nightmare, only to find the waking world no better. A low growl from Bridget sent them scurrying into the forest.

“I guess you did know what you were doing,” Newton said, limping toward Hitori. “It seems I have much to learn if I hope to survive up north.”

Hitori laughed, an awkward smile fighting the exhaustion on his face. “That was a lucky guess, not sure it’ll be useful in general.”

“Alright you little shits, looks like you live another day,” Bridget yelled up ahead. Hitori wasn’t sure if she was addressing the metafauna or his team. Ms. Athens reappeared near her, covered in blood. It didn’t seem to be her own. She was wearing the same button up blouse and skirt she wore in class.

Doesn’t she have any other clothes?

“Enough standing around,” Bridget said. She jumped through the opening Hitori made earlier, scanning for a potential ambushe. After a second she motioned for everyone to follow. Hitori nodded for his team to move out when they looked at him. Newton stepped forward to help him to his feet.

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As he was pushing up, Hitori felt the wooden piece he touched earlier. One end was attached to a chunk of stone. It crumbled apart in his hands.

I wonder what he was holding on to.

 

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The desert was still a brief moment, before the wind carried the subtle notes of a high pitched whine across the yellow sand. Far away from any sign of civilization, a helicopter slowly whirled to life in a recessed flat atop a mesa. Around the edges of this indent was a stone overhang, carved from the rock and supported by concealed beams. The aircraft sat on a wide sled, itself affixed to camouflaged rails leading into an adjacent cave.

Reaper and Virgil stood inside a nearby alcove, sealed from the noise and gathering storm of dust. Reaper stared out a small window, but not focused on the helicopter beyond.

“We really ought to build a second bay,” Reaper said. A muffled sigh escaped their mask.

“Too late for oughts,” Virgil said. “Nothing to do but choose, even if we pick the wrong destination, we can always check the other later and look for clues.”

“That’s fair, but doesn’t tell me which to pick first. I mean, should we go to Eastern, because it was the first signal, or Central, because the signal was much stronger? What do you think, Virgil?”

He was silent for a moment. “We… well, you might say, I have two minds on the question,” Virgil said with a grin. Reaper gave him a flat look. “But I think Central’s our best bet.”

Reaper peered into his eyes. “Are you worried he might be there?” They shifted focus to the rest of his face. “Or are you hoping he will be?”

Virgil laughed. “I don’t think the odds are good either way. We’re not talking about her after all. He’s done a good job staying under the radar.”

“Why is it you always disagree when it’s difficult?” Reaper sighed. “In any case, I was also leaning towards Central. We’ve gotten anomalous readings from Wychwood before, and there was that strange spider you told us about. Tell the crew to plot a course, I’ll brief the team.”

Reaper left the room through a door that lead away from the helicopter. Virgil stepped towards the exit, pausing a moment to look out the window himself. His eyes were equally unfocused.

“I’m sure he’s fine. You worry too much.”

 

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Tall grass swayed in tandem with the slow melody of the wind. It brushed the shining metal plates of the Armored Carrier, rustling in time with nature’s gentle song. A small, yellow furred rodent perched on the roof of the potato shaped truck. High ground, so it could watch for danger while its family foraged below.

It stretched up on its hind legs, sniffing the air. There was blood in the wind, growing stronger with each breath. It cried out and scrambled from its perch. The frantic action in the grass died down as Bridget emerged from the forest at a slow jog. The blood on her clothes was starting to crust over, and a few crimson streaks remained on her face.

She slowed to a brisk walk, her arms in a defensive pose while she surveyed the area. Chandra, Protius, and Newton emerged shortly behind, followed by Gordon and Elvira. Finally, Hitori cleared the forest edge, walking in a guarded posture, checking backwards periodically.

“Wow, not dead,” Gordon said. He forced a laugh. “Let’s never do that again.”

“Aw, got all tuckered out by a little stroll?” Bridget said. “I found it quite pleasant. Keeping you chumps alive almost made it a challenge.”

“Want a real challenge, try putting up with some stuck up—“

“It would be best not to linger,” Li said, emerging from behind Hitori. He jumped forward and flashed a glare at her. She hadn’t been there a moment ago. “Perhaps we can rest by the vehicle?”

“Who needs rest, I’m—“ Bridget bit her tongue when Li snapped her gaze towards her. A glimmer of white light flashed in her mouth. “Never mind, let’s go.”

Hitori remained in the back as they walked, keeping a wary eye on the forest. The rest of the group chatted amicably amongst themselves, save Chandra. She remained a ways apart, her eyes unfocused as they wandered over the horizon.

When they arrived at the Armored Carrier, Gordon jumped into the driver side door. Everyone else gathered at the truck’s rear hatch as it whirred to the ground.

“So, are we going to leave straight away?” Elvira asked. Hitori looked her over. She had a few cuts on her face that hadn’t finished healing. “What?”

“I think it might be best to wait about an hour,” Hitori said.

“Dead set on your inane training scheme?” Bridget laughed. “Why not spar with me instead?” She grinned. “I’ll keep one hand behind my back to make it interesting.”

“Haven’t filled your daily quota for showing off yet?” Hitori rolled his eyes.

“Showing off! Since when does saving your life count as showing off?”

“Does treating classmates like punching bags count as saving their life?”

“Some real training might!”

“It’s not ‘real training’ to knock someone out in two seconds!”

“They’d last longer than two seconds if—“ Bridget was cut off by Newton laughing.

“Aw, you two must be such good friends to argue like this,” Newton said, a big grin on her face.

“We’re not friends!” Hitori and Bridget snapped in unison.

“Oh, whatever, sort yourselves out,” Bridget said, turning away from the group. “I’m heading back to the school. Don’t forget to collect your weapons.” Bridget launched herself away from the truck, disappearing into the tall grass. Gordon popped his head out the back of the truck when he heard Bridget leave, giving her a rude salute.

“You kids are positively explosive.” Newton smiled.

“What are we, grenades?” Gordon said quietly.

“Kids!” Protius said. “Like you’re much older than us.”

“Aren’t you guys in your twenties?” Newton canted her head.

“Eighteen and nineteen, mostly. I’m sixteen.”

“I’m twenty one,” Chandra said. “How old are you?”

“I turned thirty this year,” Newton said. “Only a few days before….” She frowned. “Well, before I came here.”

“What are you doing here anyway?” Elvira said. “Don’t Southerners only come north to trade? I’m not sure those spiders were in the market for anything.”

Newton laughed. “I need some artewood for my work and I’m a little… sparse on funding, so I figured I could get it myself.”

“Oh, are you making something?”

“I’m designing a thermal regulator, to protect the domes from the cold and such.”

Elvira peered at her. “Wouldn’t that be easier to do down south?”

“That’s what I thought, but….” Newton frowned slightly as she gazed up and out of the way. “Apparently not.”

Elvira considered her a moment before turning to face Hitori. She motioned towards where Bridget disappeared. “So… there some kind of history between you two?”

“Not really.” Hitori shrugged. “We got in a fight once five years ago.”

“Yeah, and he won!” Gordon said, grinning wildly. “Dropped her in one hit.”

“It was a total fluke.” He sighed. “If I knew she’d get all weird about it I probably wouldn’t have bothered.”

“Don’t care if you tricked her into a meteor. Best moment of my life! Demanded he let me on his team after that.”

“And if I’d known he’d get all weird about it I definitely wouldn’t have.”

Elvira looked at him skeptically. “So she’s…?”

“Trying to get a rematch, but given she’d knock me out in two hits I don’t see the point.”

“Give yourself some credit,” Protius said. “I’m sure you’d last at least three.”

“What are your plans, Young Seishin,” Ms. Athens said. She slid from the top of the Armored Carrier. “I think Miss Ó’Hea is right about training here. Even if the sentries return, I don’t believe it will be safe to spar with them right now.”

“I wasn’t thinking of training, Ms. Athens,” Hitori said. “I just thought”—he turned his body away from Elvira—“well, that we….” He started reeling his hand.

Elvira looked at the abrasions on her arms and ran a hand over the bloodied cuts on her face. “You’re worried I’ll hurt myself if we ride back now, aren’t you,” she said in a muted voice.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Hitori said, then smiled. “The weather’s nice today, and there’s some rations in the truck.”

“Oh boy, rations, my favorite,” Gordon said under his breath as he moved deeper into the truck.

“Really, there should be seats in there. It’s a pointless skill being able to stand while riding in one of those, and hells, we’re only good at it because Gordon drives like a maniac.”

“You should leave as soon as her cuts fade,” Li said. “More injuries immediately after her Vital Net has relaxed will encourage it to increase its density.”

I’ve always found torture to be an excellent training regimen.

“Can her Vital Net actually build more or does it have a fixed population like a Paladin?” Chandra asked.

“I think it builds them,” Elvira said.

“It does,” Ms. Athens said. When Elvira looked at her dubiously she added, “The Order provided us with a dossier on the Grey Net’s properties.”

“I’m not sure this is a great plan,” Hitori said. “And not just because she’s already plenty tough.”

Spoilsport.

“It’s fine, Hitori,” Elvira said.

“Well, okay,” Hitori said slowly. “I guess extra Vital Energy never hurt anyone.” He turned to look at Ms. Athens, “But what she really needs is techs. I think we’ll have to use the Inductor because, you know, we haven’t got a whole year.”

Then you do think torture is great? I’m so proud!

“That was our intention, although we weren’t sure she would be ready for the Field Exam,” the teacher said.

“Looks like you were right,” Elvira said under her breath.

“No, Miss Per— Elvira, your progress has been excellent.”

Elvira smiled. “Thanks, Li.” She gave her a hug. Hitori looked almost as surprised as Ms. Athens did. “I won’t let you down.”

When Elvira let go, the Nova instructor stepped back and coughed, covering her face with her hand. Her skin was a shade darker. “Yes, quite.” She coughed again, and quickly walked a few steps towards where Bridget disappeared earlier. Without turning back she said, “Young Seishin, I’ll talk to Master Foster about getting you and Miss Elvira a room in the Training Center tomorrow. Also, he might want to meet with you today, so don’t stay out late.” And with that she disappeared into the grass.

“Li’s so cute,” Elvira said. Hitori looked at her side eyed. She continued to look away as a hint of curiosity formed in her eyes. She turned to Hitori. “Was she wearing her uniform?”

“Yes?” Hitori said. Actually, asides from the blood, her clothes held up well. For some reason he had the idea they should have been frayed to pieces.

Elvira laughed. “Why am I not surprised that’s her only outfit.”

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