Atticus & The Blade King

by M K Drake

  Colin and Pavel spin around and hurriedly stand to attention once they spy General Crawford looking at them sternly.

  “We need to find Loki, and we need to find him now. Are you ready with the equipment?” General Crawford asks authoritatively.

  Colin nods quickly. “Yes, yes, we are just running them now with this,” he says, pointing to the device he has just switched on. “This is based on the designs given to us by the Mecha-Knights, and will locate Norse power signatures.”

  Pavel points to an area resembling Denmark on the screen. “You see here, this reading? This is Hel. She is safely looking after her hell gate.” He points to a second location. “And over here, this is you, Olof. The reading from Mjolnir is incredibly strong. And we believe that this area here,” he points to a third location, “this is where we believe Loki has set up his base of operations.”

  “Are you sure?” Atticus asks.

  “Of course, unless you know of any other God-level Norse entities roaming the Earth right now?” Colin quips, following up with a rare acknowledging tip of the head to Pavel.

  General Crawford peers at the screen. “What is that structure?” he asks, tapping some buttons and twisting a dial causing the image to zoom in. “We recently modified this satellite with tech from the Mecha Knights,” he says as he works. “It should be able to penetrate... there, what on Earth is that?”

  The general points to what appears to be a massive, hexagonal structure at the site of Loki’s base. It appears to be moving, pulsating.

  “I’ve not seen one of those in hundreds of years,” Elric says. “That, my friends, is a Hexon Maze. And if Loki has created one, he knows we are coming.”

  “What is it?” asks Safaya, noting the shock expressed by the others that there is a Majjai topic she doesn’t seem to have studied.

  Elric smiles, as though jubilant that he is able to bring some of his own ancient knowledge to the fore. “It’s an organic construct, and depending on its purpose, almost indestructible. It’s almost like a giant virus, able to inflict hallucinogenic visions upon its victims. There are no known cases of anyone surviving an encounter with a Hexon Maze without going slightly mad or succumbing to the infinite traps the design is capable of. The creator thinks it, and the maze does it. Some are tested physically, others are tested mentally. Pass the test, and you make it through,” he strokes his beard for a moment, as if trying to recall other titbits of information.

  “Ah yes!” he exclaims. “Something else I read. It is rumoured that Loki is the one that came up with the dastardly things in the first place. He and Aite, the Greek goddess of mischief. However, I think this thing is bit more special than even the original design. Look here, and here!” Elric points to various points of the structure. “Those look like energy patterns very similar to those the Quantorbium used to emit. These are…, well…, for want of a better phrase, rips in time!”

  “And Loki is right in the middle of that thing?” asks Joyce.

  “It doesn’t matter where he is, this is where we need to go. If it gets us a step closer to him, it is a step closer,” Atticus interjects. “Mage Callan needs us, and we need Loki to get him back.”

  Everyone looks to Atticus and nods.

  “Good. Then let’s gather our things and get going, shall we?”

  # # #

  With Spitfire’s help, the Majjai Six, along with General Crawford and Pali soon reach the location of the maze, and disembark to be welcomed by a massive wall, which appears to have six different entrances.

  Atticus looks at Joyce and Ju Long. Both intuitively know what that means as one speeds as fast as she can around the massive structure of the Hexon Maze, and the other flies high above it while the others wait..

  Joyce returns first.

  “These openings are the only way in, this thing is huge!” Joyce pants. “It’s also moving. I had to change direction several times—it was almost like it was tracking me.”

  “Interesting,” says Khan. “Pali, would you walk towards the wall please?”

  Confused, Pali slowly, but also very cautiously, walks towards the closest part of the maze. However, nothing happens. She walks back very quickly, just as Ju Long returns.

  “Man, this thing has tentacles! Big green glowing ones that tried to grab me in the air. I had to fly much higher than I thought I would need to,” Ju Long says, trying to catch his breath. “It’s definitely got six sides, but in the middle there is some strange vortex. I couldn’t get close enough for a better look without those damn things chasing me!”

  Khan smiles. “One more job for you. Walk a little closer to the walls, but not too close.”

  As Ju Long walks towards the same spot that Pali ventured to, Khan asks her to scan the wall.

  As Pali activates her sensors, Khan crosses to her and taps some buttons on her arm, creating an overlay to appear above the bionic scanner holographic projection.

  “See,” Khan says as Ju Long gets closer. “The structure is tuned to the Majjai Six, it ignores other Majjai.”

  “Can I come back now?” Ju Long shouts as he points at the wall. “See, tentacles!” As the tentacles sway menacingly, he doesn’t wait for an answer as he rushes to return to the others.

  Atticus looks at the six entrances. There are drawings above each of them. The first has what appears to be the Sword of Ages, surrounded by the mark of the Majjai; the next a figure running at speed, followed by one with a man holding a giant boulder. Above the fourth is an image like the hammer of Thor, then one depicting wind and water, and the final one displaying the head of a dragon.

  “Nametags!” Ju Long says, slightly tongue-in-cheek.

  “I don’t want us to split up,” Atticus says to General Crawford. “We could just try and all go through one?” He looks over at the other Majjai.

  They all agree, and attempt to enter the door closest to them, with the head of the dragon. As they get closer, the surface of the structure begins to vibrate, then blasts out a wave of green energy, which pushes Pali, Spitfire, and General Crawford away.

  Atticus turns back to make sure they are okay, and is glad to see them get back to their feet and dust themselves down. “Looks like the others aren’t invited to the party,” he says, turning to the Majjai Six. “I guess it’s just us, guys.”

  They press close together as they begin to take the first step through. But before their feet hit the ground, six giant green hands of light appear, grabbing each of them. At the same time, the entrances move, sliding around the Hexon Maze.

  Atticus tries to break free from the hand holding him, but to no avail. Moments later he is placed in front of the opening, now positioned centrally on the opposite side of the Maze from where they approached. Above the entrance is the sword and mark of the Majjai.

  “Well,” Atticus mutters, “so much for wanting to stick together.”

  He makes his way forward and steps through the doorway, barely flinching as it slams behind him.

  The Majjai Journals:

  Pali appears to really enjoy life at Wysardian Manor more than at the Mecha-Knight institute. I can understand why after her telling me about Ju Long.

  But, you know, I also think it is good for her to be at the Manor. We often shelter our students too much here. Mingling with other Majjai is good for her, good for us too, actually. The different schools have been apart for too long. If we are going to have any hope of winning, we must work together, we must integrate more. We will win, together.

  The only concern I have is the collaboration with the Normals. This General Crawford—he is a military man at heart, can he be trusted? Can the governments of Earth be trusted? Some will see these new tools we give them as new ways to destroy. Are they ready?

  I think only the coming attempted Apocalypse will force them to unite. We have a common enemy, unity will help us.

  Elric is very worried about Atticus; Merlin warned him about what could pass, if the Chosen One takes a turn towards the darkness. The more we lear
n from the scrolls, the more we wish we didn’t know. And now they find and work with this Blade King!

  There is something hidden in the past, something this ‘King’, Al Amir, and Kazmagus have chosen to hide. And they have done so very well. My best are unable to pierce the veil they have constructed. I shall ask Elric to ask Merlin the next time they communicate, to see if the old wizard knows anything related to this.

  Now, I need to work on this new exo-suit design. If the trial suit the General is using does well, suiting up the armies of mankind would be very beneficial in the fight. But, I think I will build in some safeguards, just in case the age-old human thirst for power and greed again come to the fore.

  Mage Kayban

  Chapter 34

  Speedster’s Fall

  Joyce squints her eyes, trying to gaze through the darkness ahead of her. She clenches one fist to create a fireball to light her way, and opens her other hand to generate a shield around her. She peers around trying to see even further, as the generated light does not reach too far ahead. Recalling the time she was trapped in a deep, dark cave while on an expedition with her parents, she trembles, as her one fear, she knows... is darkness. She tries to put those thoughts out of her mind as she travels onwards. The interior of the maze is damp, it smells of moss and decaying leaves, as her feet crunching against the uneven floor releases more of those odours.

  “How old is this place?” she wonders to herself, as the ground gets softer.

  Joyce follows the interior wall until she comes to an opening taking her deeper into this odd structure. She remembers that they once defeated a Demon Cage, another demonic creation that was supposedly unbeatable, and they won. They made it. However, this one seems different. It knows her, she can hear whispers now, telling her unspeakable things.

  “Atticus is already dead...”

  “Loki will feast on the flesh of your parents...”

  “We will infest you with yellow sickness...”

  “You will die...”

  “Your soul will be fed to Herensugue...”

  “The snake demon has many plans for you... taker of heads...”

  “Quiet!” Joyce screams. “Get out of my head!!” She places her hands over her ears, extinguishing both the light and her shield as she does so.

  Joyce remembers the poison that Herensugue injected her with, how the Majjai risked everything, even time itself to save her. Mage Callan was with them then, he battled Alvarez, turned the Destructor for her, and he would do so over and over again. She takes her hands away from her ears, she knows the risks, she knows what is at stake here, and she takes strength from it. She stands defiant. The dark is not her enemy, this place is.

  “I’m not scared of you, whatever you are. I will beat you, I will find my friends, and together, we will win!”

  “You may not fear me, but, do you fear yourself?”

  Joyce doesn’t understand what the voice means, before she can work anything out, she is knocked to the ground by something moving very fast. She tries to stand, but is knocked to the floor again.

  Whatever it is, it is fast, Joyce knows this, she has to be better, she has to react quicker. She feigns standing again, but this time creates a shield to trip whatever is keeping her down. She feels the bump, hears her opponent fall and stands quickly, using a fireball to light some foliage next to her to give some light.

  “Clever.”

  Joyce stays still, not responding to the entity’s comment, she is still trying to work out what or who this is.

  “You do not remember me do you?” the voice says, vibrating its tone to disguise itself.

  “Come into the light, show yourself, then maybe I will.”

  The figure steps forward, dressed in a dark robe with striking blonde hair, spiked high with a quiff folded forward, almost hiding half of its face. “Darren Zimms. We met on one of your trips to Egypt. Do you remember?”

  Joyce ponders for a moment, the name is familiar, then she recalls. “Wait, Darren ‘Zoom Zoom’ Zimms? The American thief my parents and I stopped?”

  “Stopped? If it wasn’t for you, I would have completed my task. Because of you, I couldn’t go back to my school. You didn’t even ask why; you judged me before I even had a chance to explain.”

  “You used your Majjai powers to steal from a poor trader. I saw you.”

  “I was hungry! I was alone!”

  “You were wrong!”

  “You Majjai Six think you’re righteous, heh! I had no choice, I had to get paid, I just wanted to go back home.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask for help?”

  “You don’t think I tried? Damnit! I was forgotten, broken, and only the followers of Shezmu took me in. And then, you Majjai took them away from me too!”

  Joyce tries to think of a way to handle this without combat, but is worried, she senses something else too, not all is right with Zimms, there is a distinct greenish glow to his eyes, similar in colour to the giant hands that ferried her and the others to their respective doors only minutes ago.

  “I can help you now if you let me? Shezmu was an evil being under the influence of even darker forces. Come with me, to Wysardian Manor. Elric can help you.”

  “I’ve had a better offer from Loki. If I kill you, he will make me rich, and let me be part of his new army!”

  “You can’t trust...”

  Before Joyce can finish her sentence, Zimms makes his move, speeding towards her, he slides down to the floor and sweeps through her, sending her flying into the air.

  Joyce is quick to react, forming her shield as she lands and getting ready to retaliate against this rival speedster. She forms a sphere around her and storms forward, knocking Zimms to the ground. She then darts towards the entrance she spotted earlier, spinning around corner after corner. She fires fireballs in front of her to light her path, and behind her to block her opponent’s.

  “I know what you fear Sparks! I’m going to feed you to the snake demon myself!”

  Joyce tries to run faster, but Zimms is still gaining on her. She cannot fathom how he has become faster than her, and wonders if Loki has had a hand in his increased abilities. It would also explain how he knows so much—and perhaps why his eyes are so green, could he be under Loki’s control? The Darren that Joyce remembers was not this dark, not this menacing. And while he had done wrong, perhaps he did not have a choice. She wonders if maybe, maybe she was wrong.

  “Come here!”

  Joyce hears Zimms behind her. He is getting closer, she can almost feel him – and then, in an instant he is in front of her and trips Joyce to the ground again.

  Zimms begins to run faster in a circle around her, so quickly that he begins to generate a vortex, sucking out the air from the centre.

  Joyce gasps for air in the darkness. She can feel herself beginning to blank out. Then she notices something green glowing on Zimm’s arm. She wonders if this is what Loki is using. She knows it is a long shot, but she has no choice. As her vision blurs, she sums up enough strength for one more fireball. She aims, she fires, she sleeps.

  Some time passes before Joyce opens her eyes. Hurt and exhausted, she wipes away the tiredness and lights another fireball. Looking around, she gasps to find Darren standing over her. But he does not look so menacing now.

  “Good, you’re awake!” says Zimms.

  “Darren?” Joyce asks tentatively, hoping he is not going to launch another attack. “You okay?”

  “Wow, you actually remember me? Joyce, right? I never got to thank you.”

  “Thank me?” Joyce is now really confused.

  “Yes, you made me realise that I needed to choose another path. I was actually doing a lot of good around Egypt, until I crossed paths again with Shezmu. His followers captured me, tortured me. I don’t remember much else, but there was this Norse demigod, said his name was Loki…, and then, nothing. Until now. Where are we?”

  Joyce stands slowly, clutching her leg.

  Darren helps her to her fee
t. “Don’t you have healing powers?”

  Joyce nods, surprised that she didn’t think of it herself, places a hand over her injury, and heals her wound.

  “This place, it is called a Hexon Maze,” she says. “We are after Loki, but, if I am right, the rest of the Majjai Six are also trapped inside. We need to get to the middle.”

  “Well, maybe I can help?” Darren responds eagerly.

  “Maybe you could. Two of us would cover ground much fas...” As Joyce is about to complete her sentence, the roof of the maze opens up, revealing the sky above it, and a vortex unceremoniously sucks Darren up and out. Joyce tries to follow, but the opening closes too quickly. She lands hard, again in the dark, but only for a moment as her eyes adjust to the lighting. As she opens them wider, she can feel a tingle to her side, her Soul Sword begins to form and take shape on her hilt. “Now? Now you come? I so could have used you a little earlier!” she mutters with a bit of a laugh. But her humour does not last too long, for a short distance ahead of her, she can see the now all-too-familiar green light, pulsating from an opening in the wall.

  The Scrolls of Kazmagus: Catalogue Translation ID 304.72: Time rips

  The analysis of the green ooze has resulted in some strange results. Witnesses state that it projects a green tentacle of light, one with the ability to whip through portals.

  The Norse God, Loki seems to have created several mini rips in the space-time continuum, and is using the ooze to create very small conduits which allow him to pull entities through so fast, that it barely disrupts the timeline.

  This is impressive magic. If we understand our observations correctly, Loki is able to bring anyone he wants through time, without disturbing it, as long as he does not affect the past. He appears to be only be able to force an avenue ahead of the linear timeline, but not behind its point of origin. Loki is certainly wise, he knows not to anger the Angels, or the Horsemen by meddling with time too much. The Eternals would also be unhappy with such interfering.