Chapters:

Chapter 7

With the meal completed Labyrinth’s office was quickly placed back in order. The table was cleared of platters, and the food was either consumed or thrown away. Layers of home like veneer were stripped away to reveal the chrome and glass world of a dedicated information broker. It wasn’t the drastic change that made Adora stare. It was the small army of Mr. Labyrinths that performed the cleaning duties that had her surprised.

As soon as they had finished their argument and eating, the copies of Labyrinth came from every nook and cranny. They marched in perfect synchronization and matching stride. Adora watched as the squad of Labyrinths silently shuffled furniture back into its proper place. She even thought she saw one of the copies cleaning Brachen’s open armor polishing the bands of metal that had opened like some sort of metal flower. Then, just like they appeared the copies vanished, flowing back to wherever they came from leaving the original smiling Labyrinth sitting with Brachen, Corrs, Captain Felist, and Adora.

If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were trying to show off.”

Captain, you wound me.”

Was no one else freaked out about that?”

Corrs chuckled at Adora.

It was nothing. I simply had some extra decoy shells standing around for security, and thought that all things considered you would rather not help clean my home.”

Shells?”

Mr. Labyrinth is capable of running multiple bodies at once. He is what Artificials often call a hive.”

Indeed, Brachen. It certainly helps with my business to have ears everywhere.”

Do they all look just like you?”

Labyrinth winked as way of an answer.

I think we are getting off of the important topic, and I would rather you not be here when the Larisha Combine finds you.”

Labyrinth is right. We can’t stay here, and someone needs to go find Cas. Not you, Corrs. All you do is get him more fired up.”

Not my fault he makes it so easy.”

Felist gave what Adora was starting to think of as her signature withering stare. Corrs stopped smiling.

Be that as it may, I’m taking Brachen with me. I want you to keep an eye on Adora. Keep her moving. Those Lancer squads are going to be combing this area after us getting spotted. Don’t let them find you, and if they do.”

Don’t insult me by finishing that, Captain.”

Fair enough. After we find Cas, we’ll go get eyes on the Larisha office. Only way out of this that I can see is going to involve getting through that front door. Keep you P-Comm tuned to the usual frequency. I’ll broadcast a rendezvous point when we’re done. If you don’t have those coordinates in six hours use our usual exit plan.”

Corrs scowled but nodded.

If you are going to leave, you need to do it now. One of me spotted those two squad of lancers that have been looking for you. They are closing in. I’m uploading routes to two of my decoy shells. They will lead you out.”

Labyrinth, I can’t thank you enough.”

You won’t be saying that when you get my invoice, especially after the confidentiality fee. Full disclosure, I will bill you for the shells if anything happens to them.”

Felist nodded to the information broker before turning to leave. Brachen followed suit by scrambling into the open suit of armor. A few button presses caused the the layers of laminated steel to wrap back around him.

We’ll go first. Give us five minutes then follow suit. If you hear a firefight, avoid it. I mean it, Corrs.”

The duo disappeared through the door, leaving behind the uncomfortable silence of anxiety. Adora strained her ears listening for the faintest trace of what was waiting for them outside the office. All she could hear was the buzz of the air being cycled by the station’s systems.

Time to go, sprout.”

Sprout?”

Well, Marterra keeps going on about this Thorn person. I figure Thorn, sprout. It fits.”

Corrs had strapped his Inertia Fists back on while they were waiting and casually thumbed on one of his PAD shields. He unclipped the other from his belt and tossed it to Adora.

Marterra?”

Is that how you always talk, one word questions? You are much too passive to have such power.”

Listen here you,”

Much better, but this isn’t the time or place to practice. Have you used one of those before?”

Corrs walked up to the door, blocking it off with his massive frame. After a second he motioned for Adora to follow. She adjusted a few setting on the PAD before clipping them to her bag. The reassuring shimmer of energy enveloped her as she walked.

Yeah, this is a Corinthian three seventeen. Pretty similar to the two fifties Clem trained me on.”

Two fifties were some work horses. Never really saw wide use though.”

Yeah, she had a lot of stuff like that. Kept it hidden in a stash. I used to sneak a look when I was bored. I don’t think she ever realized I did that. There were weapons, shield units, and some talismans. I think it might have been her trophy room.”

The more I hear about this Thorn, the more I want to meet her.”

The decoy led them down a new section of corridors, but they were still dimly lit and grime covered. Corrs or the decoy would occasionally call for a stop. After a few moments, they would start walking again.

Her name is Clementine!”

Easy now, sprout. No harm meant. It’s an honor to have a battle name.”

Adora spoke softly.

I don’t care about any of that. Everyone keeps calling her that name, or talking about my mom. I don’t know anything about that. What I do know is Clementine, the farmer and the mage. I know about my father who would take me out into the orchard when he was home from space. All this other stuff, that isn’t my life.”

The sound of the approaching crowd started to set Adora at ease, and she could see that Corrs was starting to relax as well. A crowd meant more people to watch out for, but it also meant more space to hide. A rodent of some sort went scurrying across the floor. Adora jumped back, and when she looked back Labyrinth’s decoy was gone. They were on their own now.

I hate those things.”

Corrs reached out and pulled Adora closer then let her go.

Stick near me.”

The armored man shouldered his way into the crowd like a plasma knife through ice. Adora stayed close, riding the wake of agitation Corrs created. Someone bumped into Corrs while adjusting their P-Comm and looked up as if they were expecting a confrontation. One look from Corrs, and the man stumbled off while mumbling an apology. Corrs dusted the soot from the collision off as he continued.

Adora started to pay attention to the stream of people they were walking through. Unlike the market there was very little color here. Everyone was covered in soot, and although there was a murmur of conversations it was the talk of tired factory workers instead of boisterous merchants. Adora had seen people like this at the few fab plants on Equinox. They were caught in the middle of a shift change.

Off to the side of the large walkway were several halls like the ones they had come out of as well as several small shops. Occasionally Adora would see a worker wander in or wander out. Sometimes they would come out with a bag of groceries or a drink of some sort. Corrs nodded subtly toward one shop before making his way toward it like plow through the earth.

The inside of the small shop smelled of pastries and coffee, instantly reminding Adora of Clementine. It was decorated in shades of brown, tan, and wood, with large crimson gossamer sheets hiding the contents of the booths that lined the walls from view. In the back was a cashier standing in front of a complicated machine Adora suspected brewed coffee and a windowed case filled with sweet rolls. Corrs picked one of the empty booths, and ushered Adora into a seat. A few minutes later a different worker walked up to the booth to take their orders.

I’ll have a quintuple and the stalest bread you have.”

The servers eyes went large, but he tapped the order into his P-Comm without comment.

And for the girl?”

Warm mil..,”

You order that for me I’m going to kick your shin in. I’ll have a caramel coffee, heavy on the cream, two sugars.”

After a few more taps, the server disappeared.

I don’t understand. I thought the captain said to keep moving?”

Marterra didn’t mean to keep constantly moving. That makes you easy to notice. You have to look like you are just going about your business. That’s what we’re doing.”

You don’t like calling her by her title, do you?”

Corrs shrugged.

She likes it, so I do it to her face. Nothing says I have to do it all the time.”

The server came back with their drunks and a thick crusted bread. Corrs thanked the man then waited patiently for him to leave. Adora suspected that the server was waiting for something else, but when he didn’t get it he finally left. Corrs broke off a chunk of the break and dunked it in his thick coffee then popped the dripping piece into his mouth. Adora sipped hers slowly, holding on to the memory of Clementine while she did.

So what’s next?”

We finish our drinks, I pay, then we wander around more. I need the crowd to be a little thinner if I’m going to keep an eye out for any possible tails.”

Adora went back to sipping her still steaming drink and watching the silhouettes of patrons walking into and out of the shop. Through the red cloth they made her think of a puppet show. The people were the shadowy backdrop to the crazy play that her world had become. She wondered if any of them realized this fact.

Corrs finished his drink in one mighty gulp, then waited impatiently for Adora. She dragged out finishing her own drink smiling to herself as Corrs scowled again. Once she was finished he dropped several small metal bars on the counter as way of payment then led adora into the much less crowded hallway. Even without the massive flow of workers, they still blended in effortlessly

You’re really good at this.”

That’s to be expected. I’ve been at it for a long time.”

That’s needlessly cryptic.”

What, you expect me to share all my secrets because we happen to be traveling together?”

Forget I asked,” Adora mumbled to herself.

They walked in uncomfortable silence making Adora wish she had never said anything. It was a void of conversation that seemed to dampen the sound around them. She filled the quiet time by looking about. Without the thick crowds she could see the lines of metal sconces that lined the walls. Their swooping tops were made to copy old paper lanterns Adora had seen in files about the ancient Earth. Strings of similar lights were strung across the ceiling.

Corrs was the first to actually break the silence. The deep rumbling caused by the clearing of this throat brought Adora back from thoughts of home that were beginning to take root. He looked about sheepishly before finally speaking.

Look, I like you, sprout, and I didn’t mean to be harsh earlier. There are just some things aren’t meant to be shared casually. They either bring up pain, or shame, or regret. Something for you to keep in mind before you go prying into someone’s past.”

I never thought about it like that before.”

And I shouldn’t have expected you to. You’re too young.”

No I’m not.”

Yes you are. I’m not very good with telling you monkey’s age, but you’re definitely younger than Sparky. He’s definitely still a youngling.”

A youngling?”

Fine, a krid or whatever you call it.”

Do you mean a kid?”

Yeah, that. He’s a kid. Just look at the way he runs off alone. Sure, he’s a mage and you people bounce back quicker than most.”

You people?”

Yes, humans. You guys heal a lot faster than most of us without treatment, and with treatment your back on your feet in no time. Why else would you be soldiers so often? Anyway, you’re getting me off topic. The point is the young don’t understand. There is pain out there other than your own. Just something to think about in the future.”

Adora let the words roll about in her head. Was he talking about Clementine? She did have countless questions for her, about her past and Adora’s parents. Maybe there was a reason Clem never talked about her mother. Was there some long buried hurt there? Would it be fair to pick at whatever scab was there?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shift in Corr’s pace. He shifted from the casual walking they had been doing to a more deliberate pace. The massive hall they had been walking down opened into a large promenade. As they came closer to the open space, Adora could see metal stairs criss crossing up and down to different levels. She realized that this must be the housing block for the workers.

Corrs hand stopped Adora before she walked across the threshold that separated the apartments from the concourse. She could see his eyes darting around scanning for danger. His left hand went down to his shield and keyed in a few adjustments.

Stay behind me, Adora. Something‘s wrong.”

A lance of energy crashed against the rear of Corrs’s shield creating a prismatic burst as the excess energy was deflected. The little force that managed to make it through the bubble of force didn’t pierce the natural plates that made up his skin. Instead they sent him staggering forward.

Adora looked back to find the source of the attack. A man was standing in the middle of the hall behind them clad in a black and silver version of the body armor the Larisha Combine security force had worn before. There was a haze surrounding him that made it difficult to look directly at him. With the strange haze, Adora couldn’t be sure, but she didn’t think she sawy any weapons.

Void kissed stutter suit. Stay down. I’ve got this.”

Corrs growled as he crouched down then uncoiled the steel like muscles in his legs. He surged forward, closing the distance between them with a speed that seemed to surprise the soldier. The flustered man held up his hand, revealing a silvery metal disk mounted in his palm. The disk crackled with energy then projected another bolt of ivory energy. He was too slow in his aiming, and missed Corrs.

The helmsman rushed toward a spot that looked empty to Adora. With a bellow of rage, Corrs lunged forward with a mighty fist, colliding with something that let out a cry of pain. A copy man in appeared and both flew into the air. As they soared from the impact of Corr’s punch the one that Adora thought had been the original flickered and vanished.

Corrs turned back and looked toward Adora.

Sprout! Look out!”

Something slammed into Adora’s back and sent her flying toward Corrs. A cascade of colors accompanied the impact along with a pain in her shoulder. She hit the ground and rolled to her companion’s feet. Adora tried to stand, but her legs would not cooperate.

There’s more lancers up ahead. I’m gonna need that shield I gave you.”

Isssssokay. I have one in my bag.”

The words that were coming out felt slow and heavy, or maybe that was her tongue. The landing had jarred her more than she though. Corrs reached down and took the shield in hand.

Get some cover, but think you are going to want to see this.”

Corrs unclipped his own PAD from his belt and held it in his other hand. The two shields struggled against each other like opposite magnets that had gotten too close. He held his arms back and wide as he turned and ran back toward the promenade. Adora fumbled out her old, less powerful, shield and managed to turn it on.

She looked back up in time to see Corrs cross back into the line of fire for whatever was waiting for them up ahead. In a flash of perfect timing Corrs swung his arms together just as another shot rang out. The feedback of the shields screeched and flared as the bolt tried to wedge its way between their force. It failed and was forced back the way it came. Adora could hear the boom of the impact.

He continued forward, dodging between more incoming fire. Adora moved closer to the unconscious Lancer to keep Corrs in view. The big man had managed to close in close with another of the Lancers, who was armed with a pair of stun batons. The two men appeared to be evenly matched, attacking, dodging, and parrying each other in a blur of skill.

Adora saw the two other Lancers.before Corrs did. His attention was too focused on the melee to possibly get his shields back in position in time. Adora cried out a warning in vain. The Lancers fired without him every hearing her words. She was blinded by the flash of the collision against Corrs’ shields. The white of the flash cleared in time to see Corrs get jabbed in the stomach by the stun batons. The big guy collapsed on the floor after a fit of spasms.

The three Lancers turn and began walking toward where Adora was hiding. She couldn’t tell if they were coming to check on their comrade or because they saw her, but the terror of their black masks seized her stomach like a fist of ice. Adora scrambled about looking for anything that she might be able to defend herself with. There was nothing around her except for the unconscious Lancer and some debris. She looked back toward the Lancers who were clearly coming directly toward her.

When Adora looked back her eyes fell on the metal disk in the armors glove.Adora fumbled with the armor, trying to get the glove off its wearer’s hand. After several uncomfortable moments, the glove finally came free. She quickly pulled it back on and turned trying her best to aim at the approaching Lancers.

You can point that thing at us all day, little girl. Not like you can activate it.”

The voice of the lead Lancer, the one who had the two stun batons, was heavily distorted by the armor’s systems. He was larger than his two compatriots and walked with a stride that overflowed with confidence. For some reason he reminded Adora of her teacher.

I told you to not even bother doing,”

Adora managed to unleashed her power through the glove and it slammed into the Lancer’s chest. The beam didn’t completely pierce the armor’s shield, but it surprised the man inside enough to make him stumble back. The other two raised their palms. The leader held up his hand to stop them.

Looks like you have a bit of the power in you. I guess that’s why the suits want you brought in. Come, little girl, it’s time to go.”

If you think that’s going to happen you’re in for a surprise.”

And why is that?”

Because I think I just figured out how to do this.”

Adora dug deep into the power she had just felt when she fired the gauntlet. The pressure grew again, but this time she embraced it instead of fighting it. It the feeling of squeezing through the cracks of the world grew and her vision doubled with the overlay of the market. She could hear the Lancer’s cry out, but she was already gone. She did it! She had blinked to the market. The Lancers were gone. Unfortunately so was Corrs and any chance of finding the rest of the crew.

Next Chapter: Chapter 2