Conjured Defense (Terra Chronicles Book 4)

by J. C. Jackson

  He held a small, open cardboard box out to me. “Figured it was easier to pack everything together. The charging cables are in there as well and some other accessories Lockonis ordered. Any questions?”

  I bit my lower lip and examined the device attached to my wrist. “Um…”

  “Hey, if you have any, you know where to find me. Just toying with it should get you a feel for the operation. If you don’t like dictating your messages, you may prefer to still respond from your phone. Oh, your phone.” He jumped and spun on his chair to reach for it, but picked up the one sitting next to it.

  I must have been too distracted to have noticed him plug it into his computer. He checked a couple of things before handing it to me.

  Tonky smiled at me. “You’re all set.”

  “The other one is mine,” I said softly.

  “Upgrade. Transferred all your settings and files from the old one.”

  I turned the new device over. “Oh. Thank you.”

  “Anytime. And if it’s after hours, you know where I live.” Tonky smirked.

  He was my next door neighbor.

  I bowed and left.

  Lockonis stopped me before I could escape the dungeon. “All set?”

  I looked down at the box in my hands. “I think so. Is this really necessary?”

  “Yes, and for reasons you’ll probably not like.”

  I shifted the small box to my hip, my lips forming a thin line. I could always forget the device like I used to forget my phone all the time.

  “First, we’re rolling out the watches to team leads to see how effective they are. Second, I want to track your heart rate through it and see if we can’t get more data about what is going on with your arcane capabilities. Expect some intense training sessions.”

  I sighed. I might not like it, but even I could admit I would be highly interested to see if there was something which could give us a better picture.

  “And lastly, in the event you decide you want to get chased by a bunch of magically-controlled werewolves again, it can be tracked.”

  I doubted the particular scenario in question would happen again and I loathed the idea of being able to be tracked. Something in her statement caught my attention. “You weren’t able to follow me?”

  Lockonis shook her head. “You flitted into my range a couple of times, but until you were on your way back, I had no idea. Glad I made you go on active communications. Pretended I could so no one got too nervous and messed up your plan.”

  “Oh.”

  “Anywho, I wanted to get your thoughts on…” Lockonis stopped when my watch dinged repeatedly as if it was an emergency.

  Both of us looked down as I turned my wrist up to read it. The short message from Vince said: “My office. NOW.”

  “Guess the big guy is making use of the priority system. I’ll go with you.”

  I worried about what I would encounter as both of us ran.

  ~*~

  We encountered Silver en route who was headed in the same direction. He smirked and reached for my box. I glared at him and held onto it tighter. Could he pick a better time to be childish?

  Fletch, Vince’s assistant, tilted his head toward the door to the office when we entered. He continued typing nonstop.

  I suddenly got a sense of deja vu. This time, however, I could not hesitate and think too much about what I would encounter as Lockonis strode right in and Silver walked right behind me.

  “Wasn’t expecting you,” Vince said flatly as he watched Lockonis take a seat at the small conference table in his office. He pointed to us and the chairs in front of his desk.

  She shrugged. “I was in the area when the alert went off.”

  Vince sighed and turned his attention to us as we took our seats. “I need the two of you for an assignment.”

  “Related?” Lockonis asked.

  “Not likely,” Vince said. He picked up a remote and pointed it at the screen mounted to the wall behind us. “There’s been an incident at a Naval Command research facility and since it involves not only civilian contractors, but also a handful of arcane and divine casters, I can’t think of a better team to send out. As well as the incident involves a prototype system merging magic with technology and I only know of two people who are familiar enough to send.”

  “That is a dilemma,” Lockonis mused. The smirk on her face showed her amusement. “And how convenient we’re both in this room.”

  “You’re staying home, Lockonis.”

  Silver and I were the only mixed arcane and divine team I knew of within the Terran Intelligence Organization. That there existed teams within other organizations piqued my interest. Perhaps it could give me insight on how to better work with the paladin next to me.

  Vince’s words to Lockonis meant I was the next logical choice as someone who was familiar with mixing technology and magic. The only other choice.

  As I turned to look at the screen, I caught my partner toying with his braid - he flipped the tail back and forth. He contemplated something.

  “There’s been a push within the Navy to decommission the battleships and move toward more specialized vessels. Especially smaller and faster ones.”

  I bit my lower lip to suppress grinning at the opportunity before me. I had missed my chance to look at the defense system on the ship in Ocean’s Edge during the Brown case where I first met Silver. I had hoped for another chance to take a look at it.

  “Spelltech is working to create a new combined system to keep the battleships in service. Currently, the battleships employ a conjured defense system typically run by an arcane caster. The new system would employ both arcane and divine casters and includes offensive capabilities to augment the existing cannons and guns.”

  Now Vince completely had my attention. A system like that sounded both powerful and delicate at the same time. Though I wondered how close it bordered on merging the two types of magical energy together. That gray area concerned me and would be the reason to send both myself and Silver.

  “There was an incident with a test run. No deaths, but there is growing unrest between the Navy and Spelltech regarding if it was a malfunction or sabotage.”

  “The Jeweled Coast, huh? And Sandpoint at that. I hear it’s gorgeous this time of year,” Lockonis commented. “We don’t have a branch in the area so there’ll be no local support. Just the two of them?”

  “I see no reason to send a bigger team,” Vince said flatly.

  “I was just asking. No need to get testy. I’ll get gear bags prepped.”

  “If you want in on this so badly, you can coordinate with them from here,” Vince shot at Lockonis. Then he turned back to us. “You’ll have to send any evidence you can’t process yourselves back. High priority. There’ll be a Shrike ready to take you to Great Tree in two hours. Go.”

  ~*~

  While I trailed behind Silver, I looked up the weather for Sandpoint. It was on the other side of the equator which meant they would be in summer. A new system merging technology and magic and it was warm? I could not hold back a grin. This would hopefully turn out to be a good, simple trip.

  With the information we had, I doubted it needed more than another pair of eyes on the system to figure out what happened. Granted, if it was sabotage then it would likely fall to us to figure out who and why.

  “You seem excited for this. Also looks like you picked up some new gear,” Silver said with a teasing tone.

  “Lockonis wants me to test the watch and apparently I was due for an upgrade.”

  “What else you got?” Silver fell in line beside me and reached for my box again.

  I tightened my hold and glared up at him. “Go get packed. We don’t have a lot of time.”

  Silver grabbed my arm and pulled me down a different hall than the way I needed to go.

  “What are you doing?” I tried to stop and pull away, but stumbled forward.

  “You need to go to the armory and stop avoiding Coburn.”

  “I have no rea
son to… hey!”

  Silver pilfered my box and took off down the hall. I had to run to attempt to keep up with his jog. Childish pain in my…

  By the time he slowed down so I could catch up we stood outside the armory. I took my box out from under his arm while he opened the door and turned to leave.

  Silver picked me up with one arm around my waist and pulled me inside. We had been over why I avoided coming down here. I still had not come up with how to explain my broken staff.

  “Put me down! This can wait until we get back.” I struggled to get out of his hold, mentally cursing his strength.

  “You’re not going unarmed.”

  “I won’t be unarmed.” I doubted my partner forgot about my casting abilities.

  Silver turned and set me down so I faced the counter a Dwarf stood behind with his arms crossed. My staff laid there between us. How had it gotten down here?

  Coburn stroked his beard, looking at the staff. “At least you broke the internals while it was open so it was still serviceable.”

  “I, uh…” I wrung my hands.

  He put something black on the counter. “Let’s see if this one can handle what you’ve got.” Coburn smiled. “Lockonis told me months ago about what happened. Never thought about a caster using it never mind the way you did.”

  I stepped forward and picked up the shrunken staff already tucked into its new holster. “Thank you.”

  Coburn waved me off. “And let me know if you have any problems with this one. I’ve got some ideas for improvement, but I haven’t figured out how to keep it as light as these two.”

  Silver stepped up next to me. “Can I get my gear? We’re headed out.”

  “Yeah, absolutely. Let me go grab it.” Coburn disappeared around a corner.

  My partner smirked down at me. “See, nothing to worry about.”

  I sighed and added the staff to my box. “I should get going. I’ll meet you in the hangar.”

  Silver opened his mouth to say something and then closed it for a moment before he said, “Alright.”

  Taking my leave, I hurried to my quarters. I hoped this time might be a little better. Silver finally stopped treating me like I was his boss.

  The excitement from earlier drained away as I thought about the potential problems we faced. I needed to focus right now. I could think through all the scenarios on the flight there.

  Chapter 3

  “Are you sure you’re okay with talking to Naval Command?” I asked while I reviewed the information Lockonis sent about our loaner vehicle and where we were staying. I trailed behind Silver through the airport being slowed down by the weight of my gear bag and luggage. At least I thought to change for the weather we flew into.

  Now where was the bus we needed to take to get our loaner vehicle? I scanned the signs overhead to get my bearings.

  “What in the Hells are you doing here?” an angry voice shouted from nearby. It sounded like it came from around the corner.

  I struggled to keep up with Silver who decided he wanted to check out what was happening. He was not slowed down by what he carried.

  “You’re here to plead your case before they even have a chance to review our reports.”

  “I ain’t here to sway them,” a Dwarven man in a Navy uniform argued with a Human man.

  I stepped up alongside where Silver stood watching them around the corner. I asked, “Do you think they’re here for us?”

  He snorted. “I know they are. Should we confront them or just leave?”

  I glanced at Silver. Neither of us wore anything to label us as part of the TIO, though his armored jacket would stand out. “I’m more inclined to leave. They shouldn’t be here and I’d rather choose the time and place of our first meeting.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Where are we going again?”

  I pointed at the buses outside the doors on the opposite side from where we were. “We have to get over there.”

  “We’ll have to deal with them now if we go past them.”

  People walked by from where they came from their own flights. “Maybe not. Wait until the crowd gets a little thicker and we’ll join as part of the group.”

  “Is that how you escaped everyone in Mystic Port?”

  “No.” And I had no plans of telling him how I managed it.

  Silver smirked down at me. “Something tells me you’ve done this before.”

  “Maybe.”

  More people came down to head around to collect their luggage and we merged in with them. The two continued to argue, but with all the commotion, it was hard to hear them.

  Silver took my free hand in his and kissed the back of it, grinning broadly. “M’lady.”

  I quickly pulled my hand away from him. “Don’t you start that again,” I shot at him. I swore I would never understand what went on in his head.

  With no further issue, we got past the two arguing and had taken the bus to the correct location. Now we waited at the counter for our loaner vehicle. The clerk had gone to the back for something when Silver asked, “Do you have the information of where we’re staying?”

  I nodded. “It looks like it’s pretty close to the base. I’m going to find out if there’s a conference room we can use to set up for the first meeting.”

  “Uncommon ground,” Silver noted.

  “Seems only fair.”

  As soon as the woman came back, Silver grabbed the keys and took off before I could finish filling out the paperwork.

  “Hey!”

  “I’m driving.”

  “You’re such a pain,” I muttered in my dialect of common, knowing he would not be able to understand me.

  “In regular common, please.”

  ~*~

  While Silver went to get himself coffee, I sat and read through the case file on my tablet, idly toying with the badge hanging around my neck with one hand. The representatives from both Naval Command and Spelltech would be arriving shortly.

  I perked my head up when I heard the door open. It was about time Silver got back.

  The Dwarven Naval officer from the airport entered and I forced a smile, shifting uncomfortably. I had been hoping to not face either one alone and had also wished it was neither of the two from the airport.

  He smiled at me and reached across the table. “I’m Commander Jonim Stormrider with Naval Command. Jonim is fine - I don’t stand on ceremony when I don’t have to.”

  Before I could take his hand, the door slammed open and I jumped at the sound. The Human man who had been at the airport stomped in.

  The representative from Spelltech looked me over. “Where’s your boss?” he demanded.

  I rubbed the bridge of my nose in an effort to head off the oncoming headache these two would likely give me. Certainly not everyone was this aggressive, or at least I hoped. Though hope was fading fast.

  This may be the one time the title I hated came in handy. I opened my mouth to tell him she was back at the main office when Silver strode in.

  “About time. How long were you planning to make us wait?” The Human man continued his demands.

  Even Jonim seemed confused by his behavior. “Jake, take it easy, we just got here. Ain’t even asked them their names yet. And since I know his lack of manners as of late, this is Jacob Martin, the owner of Spelltech.”

  Silver turned to me and I shrugged. He took a sip of coffee before he said, “I’m Silver Blaise with the TIO and this is my partner, Ketayl.”

  Jake crossed his arms and tried to stare my partner down. His lack of height in comparison made it comical. “Well, all you have to do is tell these hard heads our project was sabotaged and we can be done.”

  My partner nodded over to me. “That’s for her to decide.”

  I put my tablet down and sat forward. “A decision will be made after a full investigation. The more both of your organizations cooperate, the faster this can go.”

  “She’s not serious, is she?” Jake asked, looking at Jonim, “We already came to the concl
usion it was sabotaged. Likely by the military who doesn’t want this project to succeed. And what do TIO agents know about a system like this which incorporates magic and technology?”

  Jonim balled up his fists. “Dammit, Jake, get your head out of your ass for one second and…”

  “Enough!” A hint of my power made it into my voice, causing an echo and both men stilled. A smirk appeared on my partner’s face for a moment.

  Silver sat down next to me. “We might know more than you think. At least she will. I’m just the divine side of the equation.”

  Jonim stroked his beard. “You’re saying you’re both casters?”

  I nodded.

  “And you’re arcane?” the Dwarf pointed at me.

  I nodded again.

  “And the two of you work together regularly?” This Commander seemed a bit slow to get the idea.

  “Pretty well at that,” Silver commented. “I take it the divine and arcane casters don’t get along?”

  “Like Orcs and Trolls,” Jonim confirmed.

  This could prove problematic. Jake glared at Jonim.

  “Can you describe what happened exactly?” Silver asked. I was content to let my partner talk.

  The two looked at each other and then Jonim spoke. “We were running a test on the defensive side to see if we could figure out why the casters keep hitting resistance. Normally the energy being put in is amplified to create the shields around the ships which is why those can be operated by a single caster, but at this rate we’d need a ship-full of casters to get the output, defeating the purpose.”

  Jake sighed. “Look, I can admit when I’ve been rude. Jonim has actually been the one of the few who is supportive of us.”

  I glanced up at Silver. Had Jake come in confrontational because of his assumption we would be biased?

  Jonim continued, “Things were moving along as usual. As soon as the poor bastard started syncing sparks flew. The damage is minor, but the casters don’t see it that way and of course not Spelltech. I know enough about the system to admit it shouldn’t have been able to do that.”

  “I’m still uncertain if it has anything to do with the shielding we have between the two systems, but it shouldn’t affect the output.” Jake sat back with his arms crossed and stared at the ceiling.