by Adam Holt
Now! I mouthed to them. Jump.
This time we all grasped hands and didn’t let go. We pushed away from the side of the Lion’s Mane…just in time. The tentacle smacked our takeoff point, leaving a dent. We would have been space junk if we waited a second longer.
It was probably the adrenaline, but we pushed off with a lot more force than last time. Our aim was great though. The Adversity was quickly approaching, and behind us we watched the tentacle flopping wildly, leaving dents in the side of the ship. That should keep them busy for a while, I thought, and hopefully it won’t knock us into the next solar system. We were still well within its reach but somehow avoided a death swat. My breathing was under control, but the journey wasn’t over. We needed a portal when we arrived. I collected myself and pictured the space lab inside the ship. I aimed for a spot just to the side of the orangutan cage. A portal began to emerge, and a thin red line extended from my hand, guiding us toward our target.
Moments later we tumbled into the space lab. This time the vines in the garden caught us, but we ended up in a pile nonetheless. I slid the portal shut.
“Everybody okay?” I said, removing my helmet.
All thumbs were up. Tabitha rubbed her hands across my forehead where my hair fell in sweaty tangles. “Tully, you look tired.”
I was. The suit felt heavy, even with the ABA, but we had work to do. Buckshot floated forward, rubbing his neck. He had recovered his senses.
“Where’s the Commander? Gimme a report.”
“Dad’s alive. He’s going to blow up their ship. He sent me to release you.”
“Can you do it now?”
It was a chore to lift my hands, but I calmed myself down and focused. Once again, the bars softened and began to bend, but a soft noise interrupted my efforts. A chill ran down my spine.
The hatch at the other end of the space lab opened. Slowly, methodically, a dark shape made its way into the light, stealing our hope with every inch it moved forward.
“Oh, no,” said Tabitha. “Not those eyes.”
DUELS AND DEALS
Lincoln Sawyer’s blue eyes illuminated his face, a faint grin on his pale lips. He moved up the corridor toward us. On his left was the orangutan cage. On his right was the garden. He pushed past the vines and plants, past Owlbert and the mice, and stopped at the far end of the cage. In each hand was a black staff, both ends popping with purple electricity. The captives retreated to the back of the cage. They knew what those staffs could do. Sunjay, Tabitha, and I retreated to the back of the space lab. Sawyer clicked the staffs together.
“Well, children, what a surprise,” he said, calm as usual. “Three of my captives are free. I didn’t expect to see you outside the cage. And in spacesuits no less? Where have you been?”
“Space,” I said. There was no hiding that information from him. His Android eyes could determine the temperature of our suits.
“Ah. I do not suppose you brought me the Harper Device, did you? Commander Trackman would be ever so pleased if I brought him the Device. He went to find your father and left me in charge of The Adversity.”
“Congratulations,” Tabitha said, “your mother would be so proud.”
“I have no mother,” said Sawyer, “just like someone else I know.”
As tired as I was, that insult pumped me full of adrenaline. It seemed that Sawyer knew how to be just as cruel as Trackman or any of these Ascendant warriors.
“I thought you wanted to be more human,” I told him.
“Yes, that is affirmative,” he said.
“Then why did you betray us?” I asked. “Why are you fighting against us?”
“Humans treat each other like this all the time.” He clicked the staff together and purple sparks flew. “Don’t you know your own history? Look at all the wars you’ve fought, the crimes you commit, the lies you tell. Humans treat each other worse than I ever have. Yes, I do want to be more human. The Ascendant will help me do this.”
“How are ruthless aliens going to make you more human?” Tabitha said. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“Quite the contrary. Your mind is not developed enough to understand this situation, young woman. The Ascendant know much more of humanity than you do, and they can fulfill their promises. They promise to fight the war to end all wars. The war to bring a lasting peace to planet Earth.”
I didn’t like the sound of that at all.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you understand? The Ascendant are returning to Earth, and they will rule.”
“You mean bringing war to Earth,” I said. “To a place where they don’t belong.”
“Do they not? You think they are evil, but they simply want the greater good. More so than Earthlings. But no matter. The Ascendant will conquer you, and I will join them in their triumph. Only they need one thing before they start their war.”
“The Harper Device!” yelled Sunjay.
“They have other names for it, and they understand its value.”
Sawyer clicked the staffs together and tapped them on the ground. Then he pointed them in our direction. Jets of purple lightning crept toward us from the deadly weapons.
“You’re not going to lock us in the cage again,” I said, backing away from him.
“Correct. Commander Trackman gave me permission to punish those who cause problems. You already broke out of this perfectly good cage a number of times, so why should I trust that you will stay there? I suppose that you, my secret friend, have violated my trust for the last time.”
Purple sparks flew through the air like mutant fireflies. He looked at me with that same knowing gaze I first saw months ago in Hangar Two. There was a new intensity to him.
“There’s only one game left to play, Tully,” he said. “It’s called Fetch.”
“Don’t hurt them, Sawyer. They’re just kids,” yelled Buckshot. He reached through the bars, grabbing at the Android. “I swear if you hurt those kids…”
“No need for swearing, Buckshot. I won’t harm a hair on their heads…” But quick as a whip, one of the staffs sparked. A blinding purple jet of sparks headed our way. Sawyer aimed for me but hit Sunjay, who was enveloped in a purple mist and flung toward Sawyer. The Android seized him by the hair. “Like I was saying, I won’t harm a single hair on their heads, as long as Tully fetches the Harper Device for me.”
“Let him go!” shouted Queen Envy, floating forward. “Take me instead.”
“That’s not how this game works,” replied the Android. “Now, Tully, do as I ask.”
“But I don’t know—“
“Of course you know where the Device is. Do I need to explain this to you? This much is clear to me: the Device gave you some sort of power to escape the cage. You can almost assuredly sense its location. Now you retrieve the Device or I will break his arm.” Sawyer ripped the sleeve off Sunjay’s spacesuit and twisted Sunjay’s arm behind his back. Tears welled in his eyes, but Sunjay didn’t scream. “Funny, that should hurt more.”
I was blind with rage and tired beyond belief. I had to do something. There must be a way to delay him from destroying us. Ride the avalanche, I thought, ride the avalanche. Sawyer twisted Sunjay’s arm farther behind his back, but I held up a hand to stop him.
“You’re right, Sawyer, I do know its location.”
“Well, don’t keep me waiting then. Where would that be?”
“Let’s make you a deal,” I said. “I will give you the location, but show me something. Prove to me that you want to be more human.”
He looked at me with a cold smile. “Prove that I want to be more human?”
I looked at the two black staffs in his right hand and nodded.
“Oh, you propose a duel? I see. You do have a flair for the dramatic,” he said. “If I win, I gain the location of the Harper Device. If you win, you can live for a few more hours. What a shame you have never used one of these black staffs before.”
“I learned how to use a bo staff from
a pretty good teacher, and I’m a quick learner.”
“So you did, but I am afraid the only thing quick here will be your death, my secret friend.”
Lightning covered Sunjay’s ripped spacesuit again, and Sawyer flung him toward us. I pushed my friends behind me. This was now my fight, but I wanted their advice. Buckshot, Queen Envy, and Moreline shouted execrations at Sawyer, who waited calmly for our duel. I turned my back on him and faced my friends.
“Tully, you can’t be serious,” said Sunjay. “He’ll crush you like a bug. Even in these suits we’re still no match for him.”
“I’m not going to fight him in this suit.”
“What? That’s insane?” said Sunjay, rubbing his wounded arm.
“It’s crazy either way. The suit gives me strength, but it will slow me down. I have to be fast.”
I pulled off the gloved to reveal my scarred hands.
“Tully, you look so tired,” pleaded Tabitha. “Can’t we find some other way?”
“We’re done sneaking around and hiding from these guys. It’s time to face them.”
Sunjay patted me on the shoulder.
“He’s stronger, faster, and smarter than you are. Good luck.”
“Is that supposed to be a pep talk?” I asked, stripping off the rest of the spacesuit.
“I tried.” Sunjay shrugged and looked at Tabitha.
“Sunjay is right. Sawyer has all the advantages,” Tabitha explained. “But, Tully, that is your advantage. He doesn’t know your powers.”
“Well, I don’t either,” I said.
“Yes, you do. You just have to trust yourself. He knows what he can do. You can do things that none of us can imagine. I have faith. You can defeat him.”
“That’s what I meant,” Sunjay jumped in. “Here’s your pep talk. When you can’t be anything else—“
“Be brave,” I said. “That’s better. Thanks.”
I took one last look at my friends. Then, wearing only jeans and a t-shirt, I faced my enemy.
THE NEXT LEVEL
“From where I stand, this does not seem like a fair fight,” said Sawyer. “This looks like three against one. Let me change that before we begin this duel. Tully, you might watch how I do this as well. Here is the push/pull maneuver—”
Sawyer flicked one of the staffs. A cloud of purple sparks flew out of the top of the staff and hit Sunjay. The shot knocked him across the lab into the vines, which were so thick no one could see him. He stayed in the vines and didn’t reappear. Everyone shouted insults at Sawyer again, but he paid no attention.
Sawyer tossed a black staff toward me. The moment the staff hit my hand, I could feel its electrical current. Tendrils of purple lightning hissed at either end. The staff felt alive with energy, and it was so cold that my hand tingled. The hairs on my hand stood up, and my feet latched to the floor. It wasn’t quite gravity but I could walk. I tightened my grip and tried to get used to standing instead of floating.
“Ah, and now we have two against one. Let me demonstrate the stun maneuver. This is a bit more difficult, but I will attempt it.” Sawyer held his staff in both hands. A purple lightning ball appeared in front of him.
“TABITHA!” His voice was ear-splitting, louder than a human’s. As he yelled her name, he lunged forward and made his eyes glow terribly bright.
We had been huddle closely together, but she jumped back at his sudden move, floating away from me.
“Tully, take us to the next level, please. Where you—“ I wondered what she was talking about—the next level?—but she couldn’t finish her sentence. The purple lightning ball zoomed past my head and froze her. Sawyer flicked his wrist and she floated toward him, finally pinned against the wall behind him.
“Oh, that worked wonderfully well,” he said. “A grab and stun. Do not worry, she is fine for now. My, but you do love this one, do you not? Look at your face turn red. An emotional reaction indeed. I will offer you a chance to win back your trophy.”
“She’s not a trophy. She’s my friend,” I said, clicking the staff on the ground.
“As you say.”
We faced off at either end of the orangutan cage.
“Round One,” he said.
Sawyer wasted no time. He bowed toward me. Immediately he spun the staff over his head and charged. I hardly had time to react. His attacks were ferocious, each one creating a purple flash that sent me a few steps backward. It was all I could do to block and keep my balance. He retreated as quickly as he came, quicker than any human could.
“Not bad. I did not wish to kill you on my first pass. You can now attack me, if you wish. No need to be nervous. Whenever you are ready.”
“I have permission to attack you?”
“Yes, please do.”
“You’re always so polite.”
“Yes, I am.”
Sawyer crouched and prepared for my attack, but I paused. The staff felt heavy and cold in my hands. Sweat popped up on my forehead. I looked at Tabitha frozen behind him. Only her eyes moved. She looked at the bars of the cage, like she wanted me to see something. What was it?
“Round Two,” I said.
I unleashed an attack on the Android, aiming low at his legs. He was about a foot taller than me, so his legs were an easier target. If I could knock him off his feet, he wouldn’t be able to use his speed against me. He would float in mid-air until he reached something to push off and fly at me again. It was a good idea. He saw my plan though. He blocked, blocked, and blocked again, never taking his feet off the ground. Purple sparks flew everywhere. Then he leaped. I missed him and hit the bars on the cage instead. There seemed to be a crack in the bars—So that’s what Tabitha meant! To hit the bars and free everyone, I thought.
I didn’t have time to hit the bars again though. I needed to watch Sawyer, and he didn’t come down from his jump! Of course not. He hung on the ceiling above me like a vampire bat. His staff glowed and shot a purple flame toward me that burned my shirt. I put the flames out, dodged a few more flaming shots from the ceiling, and hid behind the glass containers in the middle of the room. Sawyer landed back in front of the cage and smiled.
“You didn’t teach me that!” I yelled.
“Oh, the incinerator maneuver? I am under no obligation to teach you all the tricks, Tully. It appears you damaged the cage. Trying to free your friends? I may have to end you more quickly than I intended.”
Now I understood why Trackman didn’t want to play chess against the Android. He was one step ahead of me in everything. How could I possibly win?
“Round Three!”
With that, he leaped from the ground to the ceiling again. He stood there on the ceiling, upside down, and launched a few more shots at me. This time one of the shots hit me right in the chest. My lungs felt like they collapsed, and I expected to see fire consuming my body. Instead, my muscles froze. A stun shot. Sawyer leaped off the ceiling and landed in front of me like an eagle jumping onto a field mouse. He was toying with me now. I won’t be his toy. He doesn’t get to kill me! I concentrated all my thoughts. Recover, I said to myself. Recover.
“You only lasted three rounds. Well, it appears you owe me an answer. Where is the Device? I wish this had lasted a bit longer, but—“
“ROUND FOUR!” Sunjay burst from the vines.
He kicked Sawyer in the chest and tackled him, disconnecting him from the ground. They flew across the space lab.
Recover, I thought. Recover.
“Oh, this simply won’t do,” Sawyer said. He broke Sunjay’s grasp and threw him across the room. Then he stunned Sunjay and pinned him against the far wall. Poor Sunjay. Sawyer had zapped him three times already, and he wasn’t even supposed to be fighting the Android! Sunjay bought me just enough time. My body came back to life. I launched a stun at Sawyer, who had his back to me. The purple sparks hit him in the small of his back. Yes! For a moment he glowed purple, but the sparks disappeared. My stun shot had no effect on him at all. He grinned over his shoulder at me.
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“You cheated. You should be frozen!” I yelled.
“So should you,” he said. “Something is different about you, Tully. What secrets do you hide?”
He spun around, launching a dozen stun shots at me. I retreated and blocked each one, hiding behind anything I could find. I hid behind a storage box and Sawyer tossed it aside with his black staff, then shot a dozen more. I could feel my staff starting to heat up, like it was going to melt. If the staff broke, I was in trouble.
“You’re all defense, Tully. You’ll never win like that.”
That’s when it struck me. The black staff was his weapon—I had weapons of my own. I just needed to find a way to use them. I needed to calm down for a moment, and I couldn’t do that with shots coming at me every two seconds. I looked at Tabitha. Once again she was looking somewhere—this time at the ceiling. No, the Hamster Wheel! If I could get Sawyer out of the space lab, we might have a better chance. I just had to get there without being blasted. Only one way to do that—I calmed down even as purple sparks flew all around me. The red mist covered everything. I could see what needed to be done. I just needed more speed. Faster, I told myself. Faster. Sawyer fired again, but suddenly I could dodge most of his shots. I blocked the rest. He cocked his head sideways, like a dog listening to a strange sound. He shot. I dodged again. We danced around the garden, him firing and me dodging.
“Tully, I understand now. The Harper Device gave you some of its power, but not near enough to defeat me. Let me demonstrate.” He grabbed his staff with both hands and lifted up. Glass shattered. Plants were uprooted. The space lab vibrated, and Sawyer’s staff flashed. Everything that stood between us flew toward the ceiling. It was my chance! I used the garden as cover and leaped toward the ceiling. Purple balls of flame exploded all around me, blowing shards of glass and soil at me from all angles. Before he landed a shot, I reached out my hand and created a portal that took me into the Hamster Wheel. I closed it quickly. Sawyer would have to use the hatch, which would give me a moment to prepare. I ran to the other side of the Hamster Wheel, getting as far from the entry hatch as possible. We wouldn’t be able to see each other because of the curve of the room.
