by Sky Corbelli
Chapter 58
The Big Man Himself
“Sarah!” Mat cried hoarsely over the rush of wind. Her body began to slowly turn as the cuts worked their way around, shredding her clothing as graceful patterns etched their way into her skin. “Let her go!”
Wind didn't respond. He just continued staring at Sarah, an artist focused on his work. Ezra struggled against the invisible bonds of air holding him in place. If he could just load his wormhole hacking program, maybe... just maybe. He winced as Sarah ran out of air, her scream dying off. She took a ragged breath and began anew. It seemed to go on forever. Mat somehow managed to get the bolt-thrower aimed at the immortal child. The dart launched out, and passed through the boy as if he wasn't there at all. He may as well have not been, for all that he noticed. Finally, Wind nodded and they abruptly fell free. “Done,” he sang out.
Ezra didn't care. He leaped toward Mat and Sarah, activating a portal as he went. It didn't matter where they ended up; anywhere was better than here. The sound of Wind's laughter followed them as the mountainside was replaced with a perfectly cultivated lawn. Ezra killed the wormhole, eyes darting around. The university plaza. Inside Sanctuary. He let out a sigh of relief. They were safe, at last.
The DOLT agent on duty at the university port station gave them a look of startled terror. Someone screamed. Ezra looked down. Sarah's blood was everywhere. She lay listless on the smooth surface of the terminal's floor, breath coming rapidly, tiny whimpers of pain escaping her lips. As he was tackled to the ground by an officer of the law, Ezra considered the possibility that he just might have a difficult time explaining all of this.
==
“It's over now, you Legacy piece of garbage.”
Ezra sighed, rolling his eyes toward the door. Back in the interrogation room, again. With Jeffries, naturally.
“I knew you were sick,” Jeffries spat, “but cutting up the Hughes girl like that? They're going to give me a freaking medal, Hawkins. We've had a warrant out for your arrest, but of course, you know that. Assaulting two officers, impeding an investigation, and now this. I don't know how you've avoided us for the past week, don't know where you were hiding... but this is it, game over. Your accomplice has already told us everything. The best you can hope for is life behind bars, but only if you come clean right here, right now.” Jeffries tapped the table for emphasis.
Ezra looked at him in amusement. He knew that the man was doing his very best to be as intimidating as possible, but he just couldn't bring himself to even feign fear. Compared to the last few hours, Jeffries was more of an annoying insect than anything else. If you can't burn me to cinders, flay me to the bone, or stop my heart with your mind, Ezra yawned, you really just aren't that scary.
“Gonna play it like that, huh? Tough guy, trying to be all macho and silent,” Jeffries chuckled as he shook his head. “Ezra, Ezra, Ezra. What would your parents say if they could see you now?”
Ezra grinned at the obvious attempt to get a rise out of him. He snorted, trying to hold it in. Then Jeffries scowled and opened his mouth to launch into another angry tirade. That was it, the last straw. Ezra burst out laughing, laughing himself breathless at the impotent man. He pounded the table as Jeffries fumed at him. One look at the enraged officer was enough to send him into a fresh bout of merriment. Jeffries growled something under his breath as he stormed out of the room.
Ezra's laughter slowly died out. He remembered the last time Jeffries had been sent storming from the room. Mr. Blair, and his offer that had started all of this. He remembered Gal, and sobered immediately. Gal, with her playful smile and teasing manner. Gal, wearing those ridiculous sunglasses, looking smug as a cat in the sun. Gal, who had loved him, even if he hadn't really known it, loved him so much that she was willing to die to save his life. It had always seemed like she was playing a game, just an idle way to pass the time. He blinked at the tears that stung his eyes.
The door to the room slid open. Ezra looked up, expecting Jeffries or, if he was lucky, Mr. Blair. Instead, a distinguished older man stepped into the room, flanked by two efficiently dangerous looking men in black suits. The elderly man was fit, his full head of hair a stately silver and matched by a neatly trimmed beard. His eyes were a faded gray, like a cloudy day threatening to burst into sunlight. He looked grandfatherly, smile lines wrinkling his face as he saw Ezra, who abruptly came to his feet.
“Mr. Chancellor, sir,” Ezra stammered out, stunned mind reeling. Why was the leader of Sanctuary here? What did it mean?
“Please, Ezra.” The man gave him a reproachful look. “None of that here.” Ezra's eyes bulged as the Chancellor set the wormhole controller that the DOLT officers had confiscated gently on the table. “Not after everything you've done for us.” He took a seat and gestured for Ezra to sit as well. The guards stayed at attention by the door.
“I, uh... yes sir,” Ezra gulped. Was he talking about the Guild? “Sir, um... if you don't mind my asking, what are you doing here?” Ezra winced, realizing how presumptuous the question sounded the moment it left his lips.
“Well, young man, I understand that you and your friends had a bit of an adventure,” the Chancellor said. “And I just wanted to assure you that I'm doing everything in my power to help you in this time of trouble. I've spoken with your friend, Mr. Matanane, and while he is still suffering from some minor head trauma, he was able to give me a reasonable accounting of what happened out there.”
Ezra blinked at this. Normally, mission reports were only given to Mr. Blair, directly. He supposed that the Chancellor of all Sanctuary was high enough on the food chain to merit hearing them first-hand himself, but still...
“And let me just say,” genuine compassion filled the man's voice as he continued, “that I am so sorry for your loss. Galois Doe will be sorely missed in the trying times ahead.”
Ezra stared ahead blankly as a fresh wave of sorrow and guilt washed over him. He woodenly nodded his thanks to the Chancellor.
“I hate to see young people like yourself drawn into this war. It's a cruel, vicious fate that has led us here, but your people need you, son. They need your strength and resolve.” His regal head shook sadly. “I've tried my best to make things better, done everything I could, but it's just never enough.”
Ezra swallowed, summoning up the courage to speak. “Sir, you're right. I don't know how much Mat told you, but the thunder-struck are at war with us. They've been intercepting our communications and sending out teams of their own to ambush us in the field. They–”
The Chancellor waved his hand dismissively. “Not just them, Ezra. Everyone out there. All of the elementalists, every single one. And they're not even the worst, oh no. The people, Ezra, the ones who betrayed us for nothing at all, not even the blessings of their dark gods. Think of what they did to your friends, your allies. Make no mistake, they are our enemy.”
Ezra came up short at this. That wasn't what he meant. He continued carefully, glancing at the guards. “Well, that may true, sir. However, the thunder-struck are preparing something. Something big. We need to come up with a way to deal with their plans, or else Sanctuary could be destroyed.”
The elderly man nodded. “Yes, and I'm very proud of you and your teammates for discovering this plot. I have to say, it presents us with some unique opportunities.”
“Opport... sir, I'm not sure that I follow.”
The Chancellor smiled benevolently at Ezra. “You know, ever since your parents died, I've always thought of you as a son.” Ezra raised an eyebrow at that. Certainly, he had met with the Chancellor a few times, but he wouldn't exactly say that they had a familial rapport. The man must have taken his raised eyebrow as an unspoken question, and answered what he thought Ezra was asking. “Mr. Hawkins, do you know my family's Legacy? It's true that we've always been in charge of the operation of Sanctuary, even from the beginning, but do you know how we got there?”
Ezra shook his head mutely.
“My forefathers were the lea
ders of the first and last line of defense against the Elements, back when it was only the five of them, terrorizing the world at their whims.” He rose and began pacing the tiny room. “We've always remembered, you see. Remembered our ancient enemy, remembered the people who just gave up, who refused to answer the call to fight back and reclaim our planet. They are nothing more than corroborators, Ezra, willingly allowing the Elements and their minions to conquer and dominate the world.” He shook his head in frustration. “I've tried to convince Mr. Blair that we need to be more proactive, really take the offensive, but he never listens.” He sighed, then smiled slyly. “But they don't remember us, do they? Give them a little time, and they start fighting amongst themselves.” The Chancellor tapped a finger to the side of his nose, smile growing. “And that's why we've been arming them. Give them weapons, point them at each other, and they do our work for us. It's the best we've been able to do, but it's never been enough. But now, with this plot that they've hatched to pull down the space station...”
Ezra felt his heart drop to his feet. Oh no.
The Chancellor grinned sharply. “Now, we finally have the means to strike back.”
