Sepia Blue-Sisters: A Sepia Blue Thriller

by Orlando A. Sanchez

  They all pressed the side of their helmets and ocular visors covered in wards slid into place over their eyes. They looked across the lawn and saw the lines of energy that crisscrossed the park.

  “Have movement at one o’clock,” Four said. “Do we engage or stealth it across?”

  “We cross and try for stealth,” Kala said. “Let them come to us before you engage. I repeat, do not break formation.”

  “Copy that,” they all said.

  They headed across the lawn with Jas still in the center.

  *******

  Jas focused her breath and sensed the technology around her. She had never revealed this aspect of her ability. She could ‘see’ the tech differently than others. She had never spoken about this to anyone, not even Cyn knew what she could see—or do. She drifted closer to Delta Three and pretended to trip as she touched his visor.

  “Stupid bitch,” he said as she bumped into him. “You trying to get us killed?”

  “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I’ll be careful.”

  “Be careful or be dead, clumsy bitch,” he said as they kept walking. “Keep moving.”

  After a minute, he began tapping the side of his visor. She could hear him curse under his breath. She saw the moment his visor went dark— and then she bolted.

  *******

  “Goddammit,” Kala said. “Three and Four retrieve the package. Don’t be gentle.”

  “Shit! My visor’s gone dark, sir,” Three said.

  “Then use your eyes. Get her and bring her back,” Kala said. “Two, give them the backup tablet. Calibrate it to our rabbit.”

  Two touched the surface of the tablet for a few seconds. The screen faded and then rebooted with the map of the park. Superimposed on the map was a red marker heading across the lawn and into the trees. “She can’t rabbit away if you can track her. Here,” he said, and handed them the tablet.

  “Once you find her, meet up with us. We will rendezvous at the Keep, directly on the other side of the lawn.”

  *******

  Three and Four ran after Jas as she headed for the trees.

  “I can’t see anything,” Three hissed. “Four, give me a light.”

  “So the wolves can chomp on me?” he mocked. “Hell no.”

  Four held the tablet and headed into the trees, followed by Three.

  “This is crazy,” Three said. “Let the wolves get her and let’s go.”

  “Delta One wants the package, we get the package,” Four said as he advanced into the trees. “Keep it together, Three. You read me?”

  “I’m not gonna die out here, man,” Three answered, looking around. “Those wolves…I’m not going out like that!”

  Three ran off.

  “Don’t break formation!” Four yelled. “Get back here!”

  The sound of growls filled the night, followed by screams and gunfire. Then silence.

  “This is Delta One, what the hell is going on over there?” Kala said. “I didn’t say shoot her.”

  “It’s Three, sir,” Four answered. “He spooked and—”

  Static and hissing were the only sounds he could hear. He tapped his com but nothing came through.

  “Damn EMP,” he said as he looked into the trees.

  He kept running after the red marker on his tablet. “I’m going to make you pay for Three, you bitch,” he said.

  Low rumbling sounded around him. He aimed his rifle in front of him, looking for any movement. He kept turning as he walked, trying to cover every angle of attack. He followed the marker to a group of trees and leaned against one to catch his breath. Drool dripped down his shoulder. He looked up to see a pair of glowing eyes.

  It was the last thing he saw.

  *******

  “Come in, Four, come in,” Kala said, tapping his com. “Nothing but static.”

  “Do we go back for them?” Two asked.

  “What do you think this is, the marines?” Kala answered. “You can go look for them in the park at night. I’m heading to the Keep, taking out the target, and getting my ass extracted out of here in the morning.”

  “I like that plan better,” Two said. “What about the girl?”

  “I was going to use her as leverage, but she’s probably dead by now,” Kala said. “No use trying to change what’s done. Let’s go, we have a Hunter to kill.”

  They ran across the lawn and headed to the Keep.

  *******

  Jas ran deeper into the park. She could orient herself enough to know where the Keep was even in the dark. She didn’t know if it was part of her ability, but she never got lost once she had a landmark. She had heard the growls and gunfire and then the silence.

  This is bad. This is bad.

  She heard the growling behind her and picked up her pace. Her lungs were burning, but still she ran. The growling was getting closer. She didn’t dare turn around. She kept heading to the Keep but realized she wasn’t going to make it. She ducked behind a tree, reached in her boot, and pulled out a knife. The growling closed in on her position.

  At the last second, she jumped out, knife in hand.

  “Come on!” she screamed.

  The knife was swatted away by a huge paw as she was thrown down to the ground. A large silver bear stood over her.

  “Ursa?” she asked, confused. “You’ve gotten bigger.”

  He kept growling, but looked past her. Around them pairs of red eyes approached.

  “What is it?” she asked. “Oh, hell.”

  Ursa bared his fangs as he stood protectively near Jas. Around them, Dreadwolves padded closer until they were surrounded.

  “Not much meat on this one,” a brown Dreadwolf said as he looked at Jas and stepped into the center of the circle. Ursa stepped in front of Jas, but she moved around him.

  “Why are you attacking us?” Jas asked. “We—I—haven’t done anything to you.”

  Another Dreadwolf entered the circle. He was larger than the brown, with a black coat. She only saw his eyes as they approached.

  “You have entered our home, unbidden and with enemies,” the black said. “Without provocation, you attack us.”

  “That wasn’t me,” Jas said as Ursa’s hackles crept up on his back.

  “You smell of the Hunter,” the brown said. “That is reason enough.”

  The brown lunged forward and aimed for Jas. Several knives whistled through the night and penetrated the side of its body in midair. It fell to the ground at Jas’s feet, lifeless. Jas looked around but saw no one. The Dreadwolves began closing in on Jas.

  “I told you she was more trouble than she was worth.”

  It was Anna.

  She held several knives in her hand. Behind her, Jas could see Shanti.

  “Find your meal elsewhere,” Anna said. “This one will be too much trouble tonight.”

  The Dreadwolves stopped their advance as the Sisters entered the center of the circle.

  They were both dressed in black sleeveless body armor. Shanti carried a pack and an assortment of blades were attached to her body. She slowly removed more knives and looked at the large black Dreadwolf in the center. She walked up to it and placed a knife on the ground between them. Anna stepped back and stood next to Jas and Ursa.

  “Do you speak for the Alpha?” Shanti asked.

  The black Dreadwolf faced Shanti and gave a short bark. The Dreadwolves stopped their advance.

  “I do,” the black said. “Do you wish to take her place?”

  “The man who has killed many of your pack has entered your home,” Shanti said. “You know him as Kala, the Black Hunter.”

  “He has and we gave chase,” the black said. “Two of his pack have fallen and we will taste his blood before the rising of the sun.”

  “No,” she said. “You will not.”

  Growls and barks from the pack filled the night.

  “You stand with him?” the black asked. “Are you his bitch?”

  “He has escaped you and is now behind the Keep wards, safe f
rom your pack,” Shanti said. “Search your scent and know I speak truth.”

  The Dreadwolves put their noses to the sky. The black snuffled, lowered his head, and looked at Shanti again.

  “You speak truth,” it said. “What is your word?”

  “I will deliver him to you”—Shanti looked back at Jas—“a life for a life,” she said. “What say you?”

  “A life for a life, before the rising of the sun,” it said. “If you fail, your life is forfeit.”

  “Agreed,” Shanti said and picked up the knife. She made a small incision on her palm and the black Dreadwolf lapped at the wound and inserted a small amount of venom in the process.

  “Your blood is my blood,” the Dreadwolf said. “We are bound in life and death. You and your pack will have safe passage to the Keep.”

  The black Dreadwolf gave a long howl and the pack dispersed into the night. The last Dreadwolf to leave was the black. He remained in the center and looked at Shanti.

  “You have until daybreak before my blood finishes you,” it said. “Move quickly.”

  They stared at each other for several moments before he, too, bounded off into the night.

  “What did you just do?” Anna asked. “Dreadwolves do not forget bloodpacts.”

  “I know,” Shanti said. “I bought us safe passage, and time.”

  “You have to deliver Kala to them before sunrise,” Anna said. “or else you die. Are you insane?”

  “Only slightly,” Shanti answered. “I do apologize for depriving you of the kill. Kala will have to be delivered to them alive.”

  “Half beaten to death is still alive,” Anna said with a smile. “We need to get to the Keep.”

  “What happened?’ Jas asked. “Is Shanti going to die?”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it,” Anna answered. “Let’s go.”

  THIRTY-ONE

  “I am the Shiva Archive Sentinel Series Seven, and you are not authorized to be on this level,” the sentinel said. “Please present the correct identification for disposal of the remains and notification of kin.”

  The Shiva stood six feet tall and resembled its namesake. With six arms, it effectively blocked the corridor. The weapons in its hands ranged from hammers to short swords. Each one looked lethal. Its golden skin glistened in the light as it swiveled its head from side to side with a pronounced whirr of gyros.

  “Whoever designed this thing had a sense of humor,” Marks whispered as he backed up. “Nathan, do something.”

  “I’m an archivist not an engineer,” Nathan hissed back. “You’re the Overseer, maybe it will listen to you.”

  Marks pulled out his identification and held it up to the sentinel. It consisted of a badge and an identifying card. Shiva looked at the card. Red beams of light projected from its eyes as it scanned the card and the badge. The arms dropped to its side.

  “Welcome, Overseer Marks,” Shiva said. “How can I be of assistance today?”

  “This is Nathan Winters, he is my guest,” Marks said as he gestured to Nathan.

  Shiva scanned Nathan and then faced Marks again.

  “Acknowledged. Archivist Winters, retired,” Shiva said.

  Nathan breathed out a sigh in relief.

  Marks gave Nathan a sidelong glance. “Problem solved,” he whispered. “Shiva, I’m looking for an artifact called the keystone.”

  “One moment, Overseer. Accessing,” it said.

  The sentinel closed its eyes and remained motionless. After several minutes, Marks stepped close.

  “Maybe it’s broken?” Marks said as he approached it. “Could it be malfunctioning?”

  “Leave it and let’s find the artifact on our own,” Nathan said. “I don’t trust it.”

  “It’s just a machine, Nathan, but I agree—I don’t like being boxed in. Let’s get on this side of it.”

  Marks moved to stand behind the sentinel. Nathan did the same as the sentinel whirred back to life. Nathan started as the sentinel turned around to face Marks.

  “The artifact you seek is on C-level subsection three. I can direct you to its location, if you wish,” Shiva said.

  “I do wish,” Marks said.

  “This way, sir.”

  Shiva walked away and headed down the curved corridor.

  “See, Nathan? We’ll be out of here in no time,” Marks said as they followed Shiva. “It will take us to the artifact and we can leave this place.”

  “Overseer, you can’t touch the keystone,” Nathan whispered. “It’s an Unholy artifact. It can kill you.”

  “I think we have a solution to that,” Marks said as he looked at Shiva. “I can have it carry the keystone for me.”

  Nathan shook his head. “It goes against their programming,” he said. “They won’t touch the artifacts. That much I know.”

  “I will have to put that to the test,” Marks said as they kept walking through the corridors. “You said there was only one path that led to the artifacts?”

  “Yes, this level is a labyrinth,” Nathan answered. “I must have misread the plaque back there and took a wrong turn. Subsection three is the where they would be contained.”

  Shiva led them down another dead end and stopped at the wall. It turned to Marks, then back to the wall, and pointed.

  “Authorization required,” Shiva said.

  Marks looked at Shiva in confusion.

  “You have to place your hand on the wall, sir,” Nathan said. “Requires your genetic material.”

  Marks stepped up to the wall where Shiva designated and could just make out a panel set in the stone. He placed his hand on the wall and, at first, nothing happened. After a few seconds, a rush of air could be heard as the door to the subsection opened inward. The section of the stone recessed and swung away from Marks.

  “Subsection three, Overseer,” Shiva said as it blocked the doorway. “Before proceeding, I am obligated to inform you that under Archive protocol no artifact from this area is allowed to leave the premises. Do you comply with this protocol?”

  Marks looked at Nathan. “Yes, I comply,” Marks said. “No artifact will leave the premises.”

  Shiva continued forward and down a ramp into a large storeroom. A dark miasma permeated the room and Nathan shivered. Marks continued into the room while Shiva remained at the foot of the ramp.

  “This place feels wrong,” Nathan said. “We should leave while we can.”

  “Not before I get what I came for,” Marks said. “Do you know where it is? Can you show me the keystone?”

  “I know where it should be according to your map,” Nathan said and walked over to one of the shelves. “Everything in this place is either lethal or has the potential to be lethal.”

  He walked over to the shelf and pointed to an area. On the shelf sat a small ornate box. As Marks drew closer, Shiva walked off the ramp and approached.

  “Under Archive protocol no artifact from this area is allowed to leave the premises,” Shiva said. “If this protocol is violated it will result in your termination. Is this understood?”

  “I understand, but we have a problem,” Marks said. “I need to leave here with the keystone.”

  “Negative,” Shiva replied. “You will exit the premises without the keystone.”

  Marks grabbed the box. Shiva tracked his movements and drew its weapons. Nathan ran to one side to avoid the attack. Marks drew his gun.

  “Stop this,” Marks said. “I am the Overseer. You will obey.”

  “You have violated the protocol and must be terminated,” Shiva said, getting closer.

  Marks fired with little effect. The bullets did little to no damage. Shiva closed the distance and stopped suddenly. A hole bloomed in its midsection. It looked down at its body before collapsing on itself.

  From the top of the ramp, Marks and Nathan could see a figure dressed in gray. The figure held two pistols, one in each hand, and a scabbard across her back. She had a long cloth tied around one wrist. The cloth was covered in wards drawn
in a long and flowing hand.

  “Lynn, why am I not surprised?” Marks said.

  “Always hated those things,” she said as she walked down the ramp and holstered her guns. “Is that it?”

  Marks and Nathan nodded in mute agreement.

  “How did you…?” Nathan asked. “Those things are nearly indestructible. How did you get here? Wait,” he said turning to Marks, “you know her?”

  “I do,” Marks said. “Your ammunition was quite effective. How did you manage to get in here?”

  “Armor piercing explosive rounds, or as I like to call them—Sentinel killers,” she said. “We discovered some tunnels recently.

  “Open it,” she said. “Make sure it’s the keystone.”

  “That thing will kill you, Overseer. Leave it closed,” Nathan said.

  “Closed? After we came this far we should at least have a good look,” Marks answered.

  “Don’t do that!” Nathan yelled. “The keystone is a conduit of energy. If you open that box or touch the stone it will absorb your energy.”

  Lynn’s hands were a blur as she drew her weapons and pointed them at Nathan.

  “You saw what these did to the sentinel?” she asked.

  Nathan nodded slowly.

  “Good, then I don’t have to explain how quiet you need to be right now, do I?

  “No you don’t, miss.”

  “Let’s proceed,” she said, signaling to the box with her weapon. “Open it, Overseer.”

  Marks hesitated for a moment and then opened the box. She switched the magazine in one of her guns as the room filled with white light. The light was intense for several seconds and then dimmed. In the center of the box lay a small white crystal, measuring three inches in diameter.

  “You feel it, don’t you, Overseer?” she whispered. “That power can be yours. Take it.”

  Marks reached forward but hesitated. He looked up at Nathan, who shook his head.

  “Don’t do it, Overseer,” he said. “It will kill you.”

  A shot rang out and a crater appeared next to Nathan’s head. Stone splintered and shattered, flying in every direction as dust filled the room.

  “The next one will kill you if you so much as breathe louder than I think you should,” she said. “Take the keystone, Marks, here.”