“Well, surely Gramps’ strength could break it,” Kayla says, looking at Thomas with a hopeful expression.
Jet shakes her head as Skylar comments, “You can’t break osmium like that. I mean, yeah anything will eventually break. Still, it takes extra care and time to destroy osmium.”
“Why’s that?” asks Katty.
“Well, since it’s a much denser metal than lead but tough like diamonds, you have to be careful not to melt it too hot. Otherwise, you expose everyone to toxic gas,” Jet explains.
“I’m sorry. Did you just say it’d kill us?” Kayla asks, chewing her lip.
“Yeah, but that’s why you have to become trained in molding and melting in Osmium. That is, of course when it comes to a pure ore before you’re actually being able to work with it,” Jet tries to reassure Kayla. Jet could see Thomas’s proud smile at her knowledge.
Two more guards reach their bars, whispering to the guard posted at their cell as he points and looks at them.
“Can we help you with something? You keep looking over here like you’ve got something you want to say,” Katty confronts them.
They stop their chatter and turn their attention to her. The guard posted to their cell presses something on the wall. Jet hears quiet gears moving as bricks shift, exposing a mechanical arm which protrudes. Sparks spit from its tip.
“Sit down, rat, and mind your business,” the guard says. He moves his right arm and the protrusion follows.
Jet hears crackling as the mechanical arm begins to charge. The arm targets Katty, who tries to shift out its firing range, but it follows her. A surge of energy strikes at Katty, but Jet rolls in front of her and takes the impact on her back. Jet’s body spasms a few times as the energy courses through her before rendering her motionless on the cold stone floor.
“Jet!” Thomas’s impassioned voice rings off the walls. He glares at the guard.
“Are you okay?” Katty asks, trying to touch her shoulder.
Jet’s voice is ragged. “Don’t touch me. I can still feel the current going through me.” She endeavors to sit up. “This is a pain no one should have to endure. Trust me, I should know.” Jet grimaces at the ache in her back. “But I’ve felt worse from a Storm Forest branch.”
“Vladimir followers?” Thomas asks the guards.
“What of it?”
“How disappointing that your devotion is weak whenever you’re in action.” Jet says as she climbs back to her feet. “No, I think you follow him out of fear and the pitiful promises he makes, which are never fulfilled,” Jet says, placing them in the spotlight.
“I’ll show you devotion,” The other guard pushes the posted guard away from the controls, taking command.
“No, you can’t. That’s too much power. The mayor will know for sure,” says the stationed guard.
“You don’t have to do this,” Kayla says.
“Someone has to, and it’s not going to be any of you. Plus, I am not without my wit,” Jet assures them as she looks to Thomas. Realizing her meaning, he moves Katty over to the wall with him. As a result, Jet readies herself. Let’s do this.
With the power nearly equivalent to a branch from the Storm Forest, the lightning sizzles toward her. She throws her hands up, seeming to defend herself but bringing the cuffs into trajectory of the bolt. While the lights flicker from the power drain, Jet connects the electric current to her metal bindings, remembering her training on osmium and how to destroy it.
The charge causes the cuffs to vibrate, shattering them into sand. Though, they don’t shatter before the lightning arcs at the furious guard. The force throws the guard against the wall. He screams in pain as the metal from his armor intensifies the current.
Jet walks up to the bars as the third guard checks on his friend whose fingers continue to be zapped. She grabs the posted guard who is shutting down the contraption. Through gritted teeth she says, “Maybe next time be a bit more kind to your guests or else worse will happen. There was no defiance or rules broken by us, warranting retaliation by you all. Nothing but maybe his disgusting pride.”
Jet shoves the guard back. The door to the cell clock clangs open and a decorated guard comes storming in.
“What in the blazes is going on down here?” the officer demands of the three guards. Jet watches the officer take in the wall closing on the contraption, and the smoking shoulders of Jet’s long coat. His eyes finally rest on Thomas.
“Thomas, it’s been a while,” the officer greets him.
“Indeed, it has, Captain Brock,” Thomas says.
“I demand an explanation. You. What happened?” Brock directs his question to the shaken guard.
“Sir, nothing, sir.” He salutes as Jet looks at him, causing him to quake.
“And who’s this?” Brock points to Jet.
“Gears. I’ve come to open people’s eyes about Vladimir,” Jet says.
“Sir, don’t waste your breath on such worthless scum, sir.” The guard from the wall gets up with help from his comrade.
Brock pauses and pushes the guard’s friend to the side, making the weakened guard fall. “Such big talk, now act like it. Your pain is your trouble, not his. You did this to yourself. Get out of my sight. I will deal with you later,” Brock says.
The injured guard struggles to stand. His stare pierces Jet as the two of them hustle out of the cell block.
“Sir, I don’t mean to question, but why stand with the same people who just blew up the center of the high district?” the remaining guard asks.
“Because, regardless of what they did, they’re people of Cloud City. And, we protect all who reside within it, just as we swore to do when we became a guard of the Sky Order,” Brock explains while unlocking the cell.
“Am I to assume the mayor would like an audience with us?” Thomas says and Brock nods.
“Where’re your cuffs?” Brock asks, standing in the cell door.
Jet turns to face the area where the machine was located, positioning her hands up.
“Poof; dust.”
Brock shakes his head. “Unbelievable. Listen, I don’t want to, but because of formal transportation reasons, I have to.” He holds a rope, and Jet allows it, putting her hands out meekly.
Once out of the jail, they are loaded into a wagon and transported through the hall which connects to the mayor’s residence. They’re taken to the servant’s entrance where Brock orders a guard to take point leading to the office as he monitors the back of the group.
They pass through the corridors as some of the guards sneer at them, although Jet refuses to react. However, the other guards remain silent and respectful of their duties.
Brock knocks on the Mayor’s door, and they enter. “Good mayor of Cloud City, we bring you the miscreants who vandalized the king’s statue,” he announces.
“Let’s press on, shall we? What was the meaning of this outlandish behavior?” the mayor asks, thumbing through some papers. The severity of her face is heightened by the tight bun in her hair.
The mayor is a woman? When did that happen? Jet wonders. Jet determines that she’s not going to answer until she has her full attention. She stands quietly while her friends look to her.
“Kayla, Kayla Crowley? Isn’t your sister Rachel Crowley?” the mayor asks.
“Yes, ma’am,” Kayla replies.
“How disappointing. What’d your folks say?” She shakes her head.
“Not much. If you can recall, they’re dead,” Kayla scowls.
“If I may, Miss Mayor,” Thomas steps up and she looks up glaring at him.
“Yes, Mister Kingsblade. Am I to banish you like I did your daughter? I’ll not tolerate a royal killer,” she warns.
“No ma’am. You won’t have to,” he steps back.
“For crying out loud, will you stop thumbing through pointless paperwork and get on with it,” Jet bursts out.
“Hm, leave us,” The mayor dismisses the guards. “Except you Brock, you stay.” Brock salutes, and after all the
guards leave, he shuts and locks the door.
“Well, there goes escape plan B,” Skylar whispers.
The mayor lets down her luscious hair and it bounces around her shoulders. She loosens her collar and signals to Brock. Jet hears a click and turns to see Brock unlocking Thomas’s cuffs.
“Am I the only one confused here?” asks Katty, looking back and forth from the mayor to Thomas.
“My sincerest apologies.” The mayor sits in her chair.
“It’s fine, Lady Charlotte. We all have a role we must play,” Thomas smiles.
“Now, who’s this interesting lad?” She looks at Jet.
“The name is Gears,” Jet answers.
“I see, so please indulge me. Why the statue? I know he’s a horrible person, but exploding it to rubble?” The mayor inquires.
“We tried the entertainment district gate and Kayla’s sister. Though, they wouldn’t let us see you. So, I improvised. We needed to deliver you news of a pressing matter that requires your immediate attention,” Jet explains.
“How immediate are we talking here?” Charlotte asks.
“Something that could engulf the entire city, destroying everything and everyone kind of immediate,” Thomas says.
“Trust me when I say, that I’ve seen it doing exactly that. It happened to Osmium, and to make matters worse, Vladimir’s in control of it. He’s acquired a gift from the frightening new partner,” Jet’s fists tighten with festering hate as she remembers Kosmos.
“How much time do we have, and where is this threat currently?” Charlotte asks.
“I had a protection bubble over the city, but it’s weakening and could go at any minute. If it does, we’re doomed,” Thomas says.
“All you have to do is walk outside of the city. It’s all over the Storm Forest, and his bubble is about to give out. After communicating with some sources concerning what’s going on in Pinya, it’s unknown how long it will be till he does the same thing here,” Jet says.
“And ma’am, if I may? If this thing outside the city breaks through, there aren’t enough ships to save everyone. Plus, you know the ‘righteous’ would shove all us unclass folks behind to save their own asses,” Skylar says.
“Alright, first business because I won’t let anything risk the safety of my people. Brock, lever,” the mayor commands.
Brock goes to a column and pushes it. The pressure plate reveals a forked switch. Brock flips it up, activating a sequence of gears which vibrate slightly under their feet. It causes the desk’s center to expose an electrical box.
The mayor pulls four small levers, each which open the circuit valves. She flicks two switches up as Thomas’s bubble disintegrates. Jet and the others squeeze together at her window, waiting for the official Cloud City protection sphere to activate. Jet strains her eyes to see the forest on the edge of the city. Her face pales as she watches Kozrot spring from the trees like a tsunami on a collision course.
“Charlotte, do you believe us, now?” Jet says.
The mayor’s hand trembles as she inserts a key. A tree root from the Storm Forest surges an electrical burst which goes throughout the city.
“Come on. Where’s the shield?” Katty asks, fear rattles her voice.
“Gears, you think you can do that thing like before?” Thomas asks.
“I don’t know. That was kind of spur of the moment and in my face.” Jet scans her memories for something that might help. An idea sparks as she looks at the desk. “Mayor, forgive me,” she says, shoving her out of the way. Come on protect, protect us all. If they die, so will I, Jet begs her dormant power.
Jet stretches out her hand to touch the electrified beam shooting from the console. The room erupts as Charlotte yells a warning to Jet. Just then, she reaches into the beam. Thomas yells at Charlotte to not to touch Jet as Brock moves in to prevent her.
As the electrical current surges through Jet, her powers are triggered, and her body becomes surrounded in white light.
However, this light didn’t feel the same to Jet as before. Next to her is the white essence of a silver full armored knight. He towers over her.
The knight places his left hand with her right hand in the beam, channeling his energy through her and into the contraption, reactivating her power. Then as the dome shield activates, a white energy chases ahead of it. It completes its shape and destroys the invading Kozrot.
“Soon, we’ll meet again, Jettrina Redwood,” the knight whispers, and she pulls her hand out, trying to spin around. But he’s gone. The effort has taken its toll on Jet and she loses strength in her legs, falling onto her knees. Who was that? How does he know my birth name? Jet wonders, shaken of the being’s intentions.
“Oh my god, you alright? Wow, you look spooked. What was that thing?” Katty kneels beside her.
“I don’t even know, but it knew my name,” Jet says.
“How are you alive right now?” Charlotte asks.
“I’m kind of unique, I guess,” Jet shrugs as Charlotte offers for her to sit in the chair.
“I have a large ghost knight thing barging in my home while being attacked by some weird black stuff,” Charlotte says. “Would someone like to tell me what’s going on?”
“Kozrot,” Jet says, “It’s called Kozrot. Its maker and new partner to Vladimir is none other than Kosmos.”
“The God King. Alright, listen. I don’t know how true this Kosmos guy being real is, but I can’t deny Vladimir’s involvement, especially since that stuff almost invaded my city. However, until we get voluntary support from this district, I can’t have major chaos happening in it.”
“They must choose to turn their back on him on their own. Otherwise, I can’t openly side with you. Until then, use the other districts to voice yourselves. But I’ll warn you, not all the guards will be for you and will carry out their duties,” Charlotte says.
“But when they switch, and they will, you’ll openly claim alliance with us?” Jet asks.
“Yes,” she replies as Jet motions for Skylar to help her up.
“Well, I’d prepare for war as it’s to come or else you’ll end up like Pinya, dealing with unfavorable odds as they are right now,” Jet suggests.
“Why? What’s going on across Arthro’s waters?” Charlotte asks.
“You may want to sit down for this one,” Thomas says and explains the situation.
Pinya Center : Vladimir & Kosmos
40
After Froztia had thrown multiple large ice shards like javelins killing one of the TEDDs, Vladimir orders them to gang up on her. Vladimir gets up with Kosmos still inside him, turning his attention to the gate. “Hey, look who’s checking in from the wall.” Vladimir sees Erryn and two of her comrades standing by her talking as one of the TEDDs knocks Froztia so hard that it sends her flying over the wall.
“Tempest!” Vladimir calls.
Both Kozic and Cory hustle to him and salute. That’s right. There’s two of them, Valedent thinks, smacking himself mentally.
“Cory, I think it’s time to reel in our prize,” Vladimir indicates to the gate where Erryn runs to Froztia.
“It’ll be done sir.” Cory salutes. Vladimir follows Cory to the gate and watches as Cory takes aim with the scythe blade on its magical extending chain. Vladimir smiles in satisfaction as it hooks into Erryn’s shoulder. “Bring her in.”
Cory nods and yanks her back with all his strength, making her fly from her friends. She lands at his feet where he quickly restrains her with his arm around her neck.
“Give her back,” Drotonic demands.
“One way or another, you’ll give her back. Now, how’s up to you; won’t matter either way,” Valedent says as Cory jerks the chain, causing the blade to cut deeper.
Erryn yelps in pain.
“Oh, now that’s a cry I haven’t heard in a while,” Vladimir says, surging with pleasure.
“You’re sick, you know that,” she says.
“You can still speak. Now that I have you, things will be
better for me.” Vladimir bends to caress her chin, admiring her as she pulls her face away.
“She’s not going with you anywhere.” A dark tone comes from Froztia, and the ice throughout the city darkens as it begins cracking.
Kosmos whispers to Vladimir that Froztia has an injury in her right shoulder which reflects Erryn’s.
“Oh, did we poke a nerve?” Vladimir smirks.
“You—where did you find that blade? Remove it from her at once.” Froztia threatens Cory as the ice continues to crack and become midnight blue.
“Kozic, hold her,” Vladimir demands.
Kozic moves from behind Gesthal, and Cory unsheathes his scythe from her shoulder, unwrapping his chains. Kozic holds her in a tight bear hug from behind.
She screams as the pain from Kozic’s gauntlets tear into her flesh.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers in her ear.
“You bastards,” Valedent yells.
“Let’s see how your precious goddess handles this if she had such a hard time with your shoulder wound. Cory, stab her deeper this time,” Vladimir orders him.
“Don’t worry, my dear; you won’t die—not yet,” Vladimir smiles.
Erryn tries to kick and squirm, but it causes more damage from Kozic’s gauntlets across her biceps. Cory steps on her feet as he extends the lower chains as they glow red, wrapping them around Erryn’s ribcage under her breasts. They cause her body to blister, which soon causes an unholy burning while the connection remains. Then he detaches the scythe blade slicing Erryn’s lower abdomen without remorse. She screams from the torturous pain that was all too familiar before collapsing.
“Oh, yeah. There you go. Let it out, so the whole city can hear you,” Vladimir cackles as he caresses his arousal from her cries. Froztia falls to her knees, cradling her stomach.
“Listen. I can’t explain it, but you must get to the temple and fast. You’re in great danger staying here,” Froztia warns Valedent and Drotonic.
Valedent pulls Drotonic away who is rooted in place. The pain he feels for Erryn is written on his face.
“Oh no, not again,” Kosmos says. Froztia kinks her head as if she heard him.
A Summoner's Calling Page 34
