Triptych

by S. C. Mitchell

  A wall of force shot out from her, pushing Morgan and El Brujo back. Morgan landed on her butt on the pavement. Her sword skidded from her hand.

  “It appears I won’t have to kill you after all. You’ve killed yourself . . . again.” Guinevere laughed as she held up Donovan’s cord. With a snap of her finger, the rope burst into flame and withered to ash. Her eyes blazed as she shouted to the skies, “Never again, Donovan.”

  Chapter 20

  Morgana banked the Xi-1, readying for another strafing run. A sudden wave of nausea swept through her and she gasped. “Morgause, Morgan.”

  Birdy took over control from the co-pilot’s seat. “You okay?”

  She drew in a deep breath. “No.”

  Wrestling her queasy stomach into line, she pointed at the display where the glowing dome of energy sat in the center of the battlefield. Morgan was on her ass, and El Brujo lay in a heap next to her, not moving. “There. Go there and hover as close to the ground as you can.”

  Morgana released her seat belt.

  “What are you going to do?” Birdy asked.

  She pushed up, out of her seat. “The plane’s all yours. I’m going to jump.”

  She didn’t have Wylde’s healing ability, or his fancy gliding wings built into her costume. She didn’t have Shade’s or Z-Bot’s invulnerability. She didn’t even have her fucking sword. But she’d be damned if she’d let that bitch kill Morgan and, by proxy, her without a fight.

  She closed the door on the cockpit, sealing Birdy inside, then opened the main hatch. The rush of air, the decompression, almost pulled her out, but she held onto the side rail and scanned the ground through the open hatch.

  Whatever had happened to Morgause at base, she couldn’t do anything about, but this, well, she simply couldn’t sit on the sidelines . . . or in the cockpit. If Morgan and El Brujo hadn’t been so close to Guinevere, if the woman had been standing in a group of aliens, Morgana would have sent a missile down on her ass.

  Probably wouldn’t have even scratched the bitch.

  But it sure would have felt good.

  Birdy switched the Xi-1 to vertical mode and began the descent toward the glowing dome of energy separating Morgan, El Brujo, and Guinevere from the rest of the battle.

  Beyond the dome, Z-Bot battled a group of aliens. Blaster beams shredded into his costume and tore patches of skin from his frame. His titanium armoring showed through, making him look more machine than man.

  Shade, in slightly better shape, still had patches of metal showing through. That both men’s skin would rapidly grow back in the next few days was tribute to the scientific genius of Dr. Logan. But could they survive the internal damage they were certainly incurring?

  Phaze followed her husband, Shade, firing her stun pistol, holstering it occasionally to phase and allow one of the alien blasts to pass harmlessly through her. If an alien got close enough, she’d kick out or take it down using one of the battle techniques she’d been teaching Morgana. She delivered a round house kick to one of the aliens, sending the creature flying.

  Someday, I want to be that good.

  But first, she had to survive until tomorrow.

  When she judged the ground close enough, she let herself fall. On the way down she tapped the com switch at her ear. “Okay, Birdy, I’m gone. Take him back up. Good luck.”

  “You, too.”

  Steady hands caught her by the waist right before she hit and eased her to the ground.

  “Got you.” Paul’s deep tone was easily recognizable, even over the extra muffling Phaze had added to the earpieces to filter out the alien’s voice stun.

  She spun as he released her.

  A wink, a hint of a smile, and Paul was all business again. “We can’t get through the dome. Can you? I think Morgan and El Brujo are hurt.”

  Around him, a contingent of his rangers kept the space clear. “Yeah, I can.”

  El Brujo had set the resonance to recognize her and himself.

  Nice as it was to see Paul, “How did you . . .?”

  “I saw the Xi-1 descending and figured.”

  She grasped his hand. “Come with me.” She could use all the help she could get, and as long as they were holding hands, he should be able to pass through the dome wall with her. “Put someone else in charge of the Rangers. You may be out of com reach in there.”

  She wasn’t sure how the magical resonance worked or what it affected.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He hit his own com ear-pad. “Tex, you’re in charge.”

  Once through the force-wall, she released Paul’s hand. “Stay close, but give me room to move.”

  Fragarach lay on the ground a few feet away from where Morgan was struggling to get up. Morgana stooped to pick up the weapon and brought it to bear on Guinevere.

  The Fay Queen seemed in no hurry to finish this. “Ah, the gang’s all here. All of you that are left, that is.”

  Shit. What had happened to Morgause? Energy trickled into her, like a drained battery on the recharge, but unlike her sisters, Morgana’s powers didn’t rely on mystic energy. Her strength and reflexes were inherent.

  You got enough energy to be useful? She mind-whispered to Morgan.

  Not much, but I’m not letting you go in alone. Morgan answered.

  El Brujo groaned and rolled. At least he was still alive.

  Guinevere narrowed her eyes, a thin-lipped grin spreading across her face. “I no longer need to kill you. Surely you felt Morgause die. In a week, you’ll be gone, and I’ll be free of you forever. The Sha’Xari will take Earth’s resources and take me with them when they return to the stars. I no longer need to hide out on this miserable world.”

  “We’ll stop you,” Morgana said.

  But Guinevere’s smile only widened. “No you won’t. You’re already dead. I simply need to retreat and wait it out. After that, the Sha’Xari technology is so advanced, this back-water world doesn’t stand a chance.”

  Outside the dome, the alien blasters continued to cut down Earth’s military forces. Birdy continued to rain rockets from the Xi-1, and the tanks and heavy equipment managed to hold ground and extract a small toll against the Sha’Xari, but Earth’s defenders were dropping at a much faster pace.

  Morgana’s heart sank. How could she turn the tide?

  It was either inspiration or desperation that spurred her on.

  “Javasad.” The name came out without a second thought. And really, at this point, what did she have to lose?

  A beam of pure white light shot out of the heavens, creating a circle roughly a meter across on the pavement in front of her.

  Morgana squinted against the brightness until it faded and Javasad stood before her once again.

  I told you I could not help against the Sha’Xari. Why have you summoned me? Have you found some other way for me to repay my debt?

  Morgana pointed the sword at Guinevere. “What about her?”

  The being turned. Guinevere? Is this where you’ve been hiding all these years?

  Guinevere scowled. “This is none of your affair, Javasad. Leave us.”

  I see it now, Javasad said. You are linked to the Morrigan. You desire her death. I cannot allow that as long as she holds my debt in the Book of Eons.

  Guinevere fisted her hands. “She is already dead. These aspects will fade within a week.”

  Then I must act quickly, to clear my debt. It spun back to Morgana. What would you ask of me?

  Morgana’s mind whirled. She was the fighter, not the thinker. She looked at Morgan.

  “Can you confine Guinevere someplace away from this planet where she can never return?” Morgan asked.

  At least Earth would be free of one threat.

  The sudden quiet around Morgana was deafening. The fight
ing outside the dome had stopped. She looked to find all eyes on her and Javasad. The aliens were backing toward their ships. Who knew how they were interpreting this?

  Javasad pointed his finger at Guinevere. A web of blue energy radiated from his hand, weaving itself around her. At long last, by right of debt in the Book of Eons, you are mine.

  “No, you can’t do this. I would be Queen of the Stars.”

  You will be a slave in my house, nothing more. A gnirt.

  Javasad turned to Morgan and Morgana. The debt is paid. The markings will be stricken from the Book of Eons. Do not summon me again, for I will not come.

  A wider beam of light shot from the heavens and encompassed Javasad and Guinevere. When it dispersed, they were gone.

  The Sha’Xari stood as if stunned, then as one they rushed toward their two remaining spacecraft. The armed forces held their ground.

  “Let them leave,” Shade hollered over the din.

  From the alien masses, Wylde appeared, blood-soaked but still clawing and kicking until the aliens had all rushed past him.

  Bodies littered the battlefield, both human and alien. This victory hadn’t come cheaply. But it was a victory. The Sha’Xari were retreating.

  Had Earth won?

  Chapter 21

  Morgause hovered over the examination table where her body lay. Mary and Dr. Logan were working feverously over her. Her spirit had pulled out of that body the instant she’d collapsed to the floor.

  Dead?

  She couldn’t come up with any other explanation. She must have burned herself out healing Dove.

  But Dove had pulled through. Both she and her baby were fine.

  Still, it kind of sucked.

  Olivia Diego had been pulled in by Mary to help. She was holding little Emily, rocking the babe gently in her arms. “Morgause?” Her gaze pointed at the ceiling. “Don’t leave us. Don’t go into the light. Give them a chance.”

  Morgause looked around her. “What light?”

  “You won’t see it until the other two join you next week.” The familiar voice held a hint of sorrow.

  “Gran?”

  “That little bastard has been followin’ me around ever since I died fully.”

  It was most definitely Gran’s voice. “Who’s been followin’ you around?”

  “The light.” Gran snorted. “Keep up.”

  A foggy haze to the left of where she floated solidified into a humanoid form. Little by little, the features formed into the image of her grandmother. “It is you. Why are you here?”

  “I’m not ready to move on to whatever’s next. I want to stick around and see how you fare.”

  “I’ve got to be dreamin’.”

  “Nope, you’re dead. Begorrah, girl, but you picked a good way to die though. I was so proud of you. You saved that girl’s life.”

  “I doubt Morgan and Morgaana will agree with that.” Hadn’t Gran’s Morgan and Morgana been miffed with her when she’d done essentially the same thing?

  Gran harrumphed. “Of course they will, in time. They’re you after all, so they’d have done the same thing.”

  “Clear,” Dr. Logan shouted as she brought the defibrillator paddles to Morgause’s chest. There was a thump, and the body jerked, but the meter remained flat-lined.

  “These people have got to stop dying on me,” Dr. Logan grumbled as she charged the machine for a second attempt.

  “The Morrigan dies with me, doesn’t it? There’s no one else for her to jump to when I die?” Now she’d never have that little girl she’d been dreaming about.

  Gran’s image shrugged. “Who knows? I wasn’t sure it would pass to you. Maybe we have a long lost relative out there somewhere that’s about to get the surprise of her life.”

  “Clear.” Dr. Logan’s call had Mary taking a step back.

  A thump and the body bucked once again, but this time the line on the heart rate monitor shot up. The unit beeped. Then a second beep.

  Gran sighed. “Looks like maybe you’re not done yet.”

  Morgause’s head whirled. Or was it the room spinning? “Gran?”

  She heard Gran’s words like they were being called down a tunnel. “Go get ‘em, girl.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Paul stood on one side of Kirk’s control station, with Aaron taking up the other side. They both leaned over Kirk’s shoulder staring at the data scrolling across one of the lower screens.

  “They’re gone.” Kirk proclaimed. “No sign of any alien activity in the airspace around Earth as far out as the moon, unless they have some kind of cloaking ability we don’t know about.”

  Paul let out the breath he’d been holding.

  The Sha’Xari had dropped troops in major cities around the world. Local military had mobilized to fight, but in most cases the aliens were gaining the upper hand.

  Even in Megopolis, with Xi Force aiding the military, the battle had been a losing one for the allies until that being, Javasad, dropped in. It had certainly seemed to put the fear of God into the creatures. They’d retreated and called back all their other ships.

  Then the big mothership had left Earth’s atmosphere.

  But for how long?

  And the bigger question was: What would Earth do if the aliens returned?

  Javasad had said he would not return. They’d be on their own.

  In any case, Paul needed to get back to work. He’d returned with Xi Force, leaving Pike’s Rangers in Tex’s hands. Morgan had been insistent she and Morgana needed to get to Morgause as soon as possible. The flight home had been tense.

  He’d been shocked to learn Morgause had died healing Dove. But Dr. Logan had brought her back with a defibrillator.

  “She needs our life force and energy, or she still won’t make it,” Morgan had said before she and Morgana literally dove into the sleeping body in the infirmary bed.

  Maggie once again, she still looked too pale and drawn.

  He’d taken her hand, kissed her forehead, didn’t want to ever leave her, but duty called.

  Aaron wanted his report in the control center, and he’d wanted to assess the current status of the alien invasion.

  But there was no threat. The aliens were gone. Paul pulled in his first easy breath in days.

  His phone beeped. A message. Tex had returned with Pike’s Rangers. And the news wasn’t good.

  Chapter 22

  On a cold, rainy afternoon, one week later, Xi Force buried four of its own and one who probably should have been. The five coffins stood together in the Megopolis Cathedral as people passed by to pay their last respects. Four were flag draped. The last sported a bow, arrow, and a purple cowl.

  Norm Loftus’s body had been found among the dead on the battlefield. Because of the costume, Paul had been asked about him when he was at the morgue identifying the four men he’d lost from Pike’s Rangers.

  “Yeah, he’s one of ours. A trainee,” he’d told the coroner. Let the world remember Arrow of Justice as a hero. The man had paid the ultimate price defending his world.

  It turned out there would have been no one else to identify the man’s body in any case. Norm had been one of those who’d lost most of his family and friends in the Red Guard takeover of Megopolis. In Norm’s journal, Paul discovered a man who’d trained hard and pledged his life to righting wrongs and defending the weak.

  Yeah, the grenades had been a bit misappropriated, but he couldn’t fault the man’s intent or his heroism.

  All five men would be buried in Arlington. Norm, it turned out, was a veteran. Three tours in Afghanistan, Purple Heart, and now the first buried in a new section of the cemetery designated for superheroes.

  Paul adjusted the paperwork when he returned to headquarters making Arrow of Justice an off
icial Xi Force member trainee.

  He was in his office. It felt good to be able to breathe again and resume his normal duties.

  Someone knocked on his door.

  “Come in.”

  Maggie poked her head in. “Got a minute?”

  He waved her in. “For you? Any time. And I wanted to talk to you anyway.”

  There was a bounce in her step as she entered. She looked rested, happy, and good enough to eat. She held her grandmother’s notebook in both hands, like she was afraid of losing it. “I think it’s time to turn this into a digital document, now that the pressure seems to be off.”

  It had to be a relief for her not to have to worry about Guinevere anymore. The Fae Queen was gone, and in a way that she would no longer bother future generations. At least, that’s the way it looked. Maggie’s daughter would not have to face the challenge.

  Yeah, Maggie’s future daughter. Something that was pretty much assured. According to what Maggie had read in her grandmother’s notebook, the Morrigan aspect inside her added a little extra incentive to get her pregnant at the earliest possible moment, thus assuring its survival. It was probably a good thing they’d taken extra precautions when they’d had sex. He wasn’t ready to become a father . . . yet.

  But there was an image growing in his mind. A lifetime with Maggie, marriage, children, family. Not yet, certainly, but soon?

  He wasn’t getting any younger and the thought of Maggie having a family with anyone else didn’t set well with him.

  And for the Morrigan to pass, Maggie needed a daughter.

  Maggie held out the notebook to him. “I was thinking once I had it in digital format, I’d work on rearranging it into four sections. One for each aspect and a history section for all the stuff future generations won’t have to deal with.”

  “That has to be a relief.” He pushed the notebook toward her. “No need to relinquish it yet. Let’s go see if we can find Kirk. With the ease up in threat level, he might have the time for this project.”