The Phoenix Fallacy_Book III_Magnus

by Jon Sourbeer,

Whooooosh. The trail of swirling fog by his head surprised him.

  “Hit the deck!” The Lieutenant screamed, shoving Norm and Aubrey to the ground.

  “I want them alive!” A familiar voice resounded through the fog, and Norm peered over the edge as Middleton emerged, hefted by two Inferni. Two dozen more emerged behind her, leaping for the station, followed by a wave of S.T.s.

  The Lieutenant hefted the two pieces of his sundered Zeus in frustration. The Inferni had been frighteningly accurate.

  “Catch them! Don’t let them escape!” Middleton yelled.

  The hulking figures charged the jagged walls of the station and leapt for them, but fell short by far. The lift had climbed far too high. Norm exhaled in relief.

  A massive shape emerged burst from the shadows and fog, and Norm’s stomach dropped. It was a command suit. Magnus!

  The gigantic, ancient armor rushed forward, its powerful legs giving Magnus terrifying speed. Green and gold etchings, filed away by time, became a blur as he leapt forcefully into the air. Halfway up, he caught an Infernus and jumped again, sending the unfortunate soldier crashing to the ground.

  The Lieutenant hurled his broken rifle with all his might, but Magnus swatted it aside, his momentous speed and the power of his jump jets propelling him onward.

  Aubrey unloaded her own pistol at the terrifying titan, the rounds bouncing off harmlessly. She was still firing when the click of an empty chamber finally registered with her.

  The lift struggled upward, so close to the next station, its locking doors offering the promise of safety. Yet Magnus was still gaining. The jump jets of his command suit finally sputtered and died. Yet he still rose. Norm could feel Magnus’ eyes burning into him, even through the heavy visor, as the Command suit reached for the edge of the platform. Norm willed the lift to go faster. If Magnus caught them here, there would be no escape. Not even a station full of S.T.s working for Alastor would be able to stop Magnus in a command suit.

  Magnus’ fingers stretched, brushing the bottom of the platform, and Norm nearly choked in fear. But suddenly, Magnus was falling away. A howl of frustration pierced the air as the command armor fell back to Earth. He disappeared into the mist, a massive crash sounding far below. Even as the lift slid into the station, Norm knew that their time was up.

  Aubrey and Norm ran as fast as their exhausted legs could carry them, following the Lieutenant as he barreled along. He carried Natalie and Janus in his broad arms. They had discarded the stretcher at the station. The Trooper was obviously quick, and his armor gave him speed that was hard to match.

  He had ordered a lock down of the lifts, but that would only buy them so much time. “She’s probably already radioed for clearance, and as soon as those Inferni reach the factory station, the Troopers will set them right on our heels,” the Lieutenant huffed, nodding in the direction of the many working men and women watching their escape. “And there’s too many witnesses to hide. If we can make the railway ahead, we might have a chance.”

  Natalie struggled to keep Janus silent despite the jostling ride, and the Lieutenant shook his head, “I’ve never seen anyone maneuver a suit like that. I don’t want to know who’s chasing you.”

  Norm couldn’t see Natalie’s face as he shouted back, “Pray you never find out.”

  The railway appeared as they rounded a corner, just a hundred or so meters ahead, and the fugitive group surged with a second wind. A squad of Troopers guarded the railway: two inside a pillbox, and four near the tracks. They perked up at the sight of the runners, and the Lieutenant waved at them urgently, “Ready up! We don’t have much time!”

  The Troopers scrambled, rushing the waiting car forward onto the proper track while the pair in the pillbox rotated it into position. One of the Troopers grabbed a Zeus and rushed forward to help them cover the last few meters, waving them on.

  The Trooper’s body crumpled beneath the sudden appearance of an Infernus. The Red Devil landed with enough force to crush the soldier, but fired a few shots into the armor for good measure. Fire erupted from the Infernus’ flamethrowers, the heat curling Norm’s hair as the flames licked around the group. Inferni dropped all around them, slaughtering the unsuspecting S.T.s. The Troopers were helpless and unarmed, but the Inferni gave them no quarter.

  The Lieutenant whirled to Norm, shouting “Take her!” as he shielded Natalie with his bulk. But Norm could not reach his outstretched arms, and gouts of flames from above drove him back. Another Infernus landed behind him, trapping him in a prison of fire that was quickly shrinking. Norm shouted through the rolling flames, “Natalie! Aubrey!”

  The Lieutenant’s shape burst through the blaze, firing a Zeus and bulling into the nearest Infernus. “Run!”

  Norm danced through the break, ducking between two nearby buildings and running as fast as his adrenaline-fueled body could manage.

  “Grab him!” Middleton screamed.

  “Where’s Natalie?”

  Norm almost turned at the familiar voice, but forced himself onward as Magnus’ voice fell away to the chaos surrounding Norm. Racing under pipes and over cooling fans, through patches of steam and blasts of heat he ran. Terror filled his heart, and the sound of surging jump jets echoed from all around. He pushed himself faster. Only the congestion of pipes and machinery kept him a step ahead.

  And then he was running across an open road, suddenly exposed. A cry of victory sounded behind him, and without thinking he dove headfirst into a drainage chute, heavy claws brushing his back.

  Norm accelerated out of control. Rusty bolts and jutting angles cut into him as he whizzed downward, and he cried out with pain. The feeling of free fall arrived unexpectedly, and Norm plunged downward. A moment later, he splashed into the reeking water of a sewage line, landing in a heap.

  Above him, the drainage chute was small, and dark. He was miserable, but safe. At least temporarily. As he stared around at his surroundings, grief suddenly overtook him. Hot tears fell from his eyes, and he punched the greenish water, wailing with frustration.

  “Worthless coward! Fool! Pathetic!”

  After a long minute, and suddenly feeling the weight of his arms, Norm stopped. He stared hard at his warped, tinted reflection. There isn’t much time left. Norm shook his head at the thought. After a moment more, he forced himself to stand up. Natalie, Aubrey, and Janus were out there somewhere.

  Chapter 36: Overlord, Alone

  The sewers were large and open, and easy to move through. Splashing through the disgusting water, however, left much to be desired. Norm resolved to leave the sewers as soon as possible. He wandered, heading in the general direction of the railway track, sloshing through muck and suppressing the urge to gag.

  An access ladder just before several large drains filled the water with a foul-smelling brown sludge gave him all the incentive he needed to risk abandoning the tunnels. The cover was heavy, and took significant effort to crack open.

  He peered out upon the warehouse of a Cerberus factory floor. Distant machinery clanged, and the sound of yelling voices could be heard, but the immediate vicinity was empty. He climbed out carefully and slowly, gently replacing the heavy cover. Behind a massive crate twice his height and stamped with a bullet and a lightning bolt, Norm could hear moving voices murmuring with excitement.

  “Did’ja hear? Som’ commotion’s goin’ on up North. Darva said he saw Red Devils all over the place, and they mean business. Don’t know what they’re doin’ there.”

  “I heard they’re lookin’ for someone. And Bref said he thought he caught a glimpse of some upper level type leadin’ them.”

  Norm opened and slipped out through a window and onto the frame of a cooling fan, climbing down carefully. The factory levels here were even more foreign to him than Phoenix’s. A constant hiss of steam and pounding of machinery filled his ears. Every so often he would hear voices as he passed a door, but he then he would realize it was simply a computerized announcement. He was leaving the center of the city, where mos
t of the production was housed. Despite the constant din, more often than not, the factories sat dark and idle. He wondered if Phoenix and Titan had been the same way. He bit his lip at the implications of his realization and pressed on.

  His movement was halting, his paranoia palpable. Every corner had to be checked. Every mass of metal cloaked in steam was an Infernus. Only his regret and sorrow kept him going, for every passing moment reminded him of his weakness, and every endless factory demonstrated that he had no idea where to go.

  With every step, a voice inside whispered for him to flee this place and never turn back. And with every step, he had to force it back down. He desperately wanted to rest. The occasional sound of jump jets would cause him to freeze like a mouse in a field. Whether they were regular patrols, or Middleton’s men, he couldn’t tell.

  Creeping through a cloud of thick steam, Norm found himself confronted with a broken water pump, angrily hissing like a snake as he approached. He avoided the main jet, feeling the heat as he crept closer and closer, carefully lowering himself and slowly crawling beneath the mass to avoid the scalding hot pipes. The heat was draining and he couldn’t tell if the sweat or the steam stung his eyes more. Just beyond the pump, he could see clear air.

  The frightful roar of nearby jump jets froze Norm in his awkward crawl. He had nowhere to go. Hot pipes pressed all around him and he dared not move. He swiveled his head upward, searching for the source of the intensifying sound, his breath catching as a massive shape punched through the mist, landing with a slam just in front of him. The Red Devil looked skyward as more dropped in from above, landing deftly in the small space. There were three of them now. The first was the smallest by far, but the others gave him plenty of space. Norm gulped.

  The last to arrive landed with a laugh, “Got ‘em now! Finally in front of ‘em, forced ‘em to double back. Just gotta close the noose. Any idea where the other one went?”

  Norm realized he was holding his breath, but was too terrified to exhale. The first Infernus had never stopped looking ahead and skyward, as if sizing up his next jump. “He’s not important,” he finally said in a deep, detached voice. “The Overlord is most concerned with the women. They are the tricky ones. We can deal with the man later.”

  The second Infernus clenched a clawed hand, “Whatever you say, Martel. Though I can hardly believe that two women and a kid are worth this much—hear that?”

  The jovial Infernus cackled, “Spotted one of them in Section 4.” He smashed his gloved fists together, “The other one is sure to be there. We’re gonna run them down!”

  Martel grunted, “Let’s move.” He was already in the air as the three leapt after them.

  Norm scrambled after them, watching the direction they flew. The four kicked off a nearby building, pivoting themselves and leaping North West.

  He gazed after them as they disappeared from view. Behind him, the hot mist offered safety, the audible hiss transforming into a siren song. His body shook from exhaustion and fear. Steam enveloped him, beckoning him back. With a stumbling step, he pulled away from the warm embrace. Keeping his eyes on the spot the Inferni disappeared, he dared not look back, and followed them.

  The innermost sections of Cerberus were silent as a grave. Those few that lived here knew better than to stick their heads out. Shadowy figures shrank back as he ran. Inferni occasionally leapt overhead, but if they saw him, they ignored him. Their prey was in sight, and he was not it. He took a small measure of heart in that. He kept his head low, sticking as close to the hot exhaust ports of the factories as he could.

  Crouching near a broiling forge stack, a group of Inferni broke off in all directions above him. Their quarry was nearby, but they did not yet know where.

  He felt trapped, as though he were stuck in a box, and ancient memories from a younger time flooded back to him. He grabbed a wall to make sure they weren’t closing in. His arm rumbled from the earth shaking machinery of the forge, and his eyes drifted along the wall, responding to the call. A rusting, open drain produced a foul-smelling ichor, swirling chemicals into a sickly sheen. Norm clutched the wall harder – it was large enough for a slim adult, but far too small for an Infernus.

  Norm shook his head. No one would go in there.

  The inky blackness stretched out, the flow of chemicals filling his vision.

  She’s not there.

  Norm forced himself to take a step forward, the bile rising in his throat. His vision swam, and he looked away.

  What good will it do to be trapped in there?

  Norm closed his eyes, leaning heavily against the wall.

  Don’t be a fool.

  “Shut up, Magnus!” Norm whispered.

  What can you do?

  “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Norm yelled, forcing his eyes open and barreling straight ahead. His knees buckling as the pipe loomed, another voice spoke, Jump!

  He tumbled inside, his hands sloshing through the chemical muck. Claustrophobia overtook him. His breath became ragged, and his arms pushed backward.

  Don’t be afraid!

  His arms locked, and a kind of paralysis overtook him. He fell against the drain walls, his eyes closed.

  Breathe. Tears welled in his eyes. Breathe, Norm.

  Gradually, his breathing slowed. Norm swallowed, and opened his eyes. The inky black was not quite as crushing. Not quite as dark.

  One arm at a time…

  He crawled. Slowly at first, but the whine of distant jump jets drove him faster. And then he heard it. Heavy breathing, and short sobs. He crawled faster. A light shone ahead of him.

  “I’m sorry…” a voice sobbed.

  Norm crawled to the light, sloshing through the drain. Broken paneling allowed the light to filter, and he slid through. It was a small maintenance tunnel, running just above the drain and an ancient and forgotten railway. Heavy bars separated the tunnel from the tracks below. He had just enough room to continue his crawl.

  “I’m sorry, Janus…” Natalie croaked.

  Norm peered down. Natalie’s huddled form clutched Janus to her body. Her head lolled as she scratched into something in her hand with a rusty nail. She rolled her head to look at the object, and Norm caught sight of blood.

  “Maybe, maybe your father will see it?” She opened her palm and Norm caught the reddish-gold glint of her locket. She flipped the locket, and it fell open. A tear splashed inside.

  “Natalie!” Norm hissed.

  Her head rolled upward, her eyes unfocused. After a moment, she returned to Janus, “I thought I heard a familiar voice.”

  “It’s me! Norm!” He said.

  Natalie’s head shifted. “Norm’s not here. Nobody’s here.”

  A lump rose in Norm’s throat, “I’m here, Natalie.”

  “We’re all alone, Janus.”

  Norm grabbed the bars tighter.

  “But Middleton will soon be here. I don’t think Magnus knows…” she trailed off.

  Jumps jets roared in the distance, and yelling voices echoed from just out of sight. Norm pressed his face into the bars, “Yes! Middleton! That’s why you need to get up.” His voice wavered in an urgent whisper.

  “Get—up? Where? There’s nowhere to…?” her head drooped.

  The walls of the tunnel constricted upon Norm, but he shook the bars. “No! Don’t give up! What about Janus?”

  Natalie tilted her head towards the tiny bundle, the splotch on her head growing larger.

  “What did your father say?” Norm gasped.

  “Father?” She gazed upward, confusion stamped upon her face. “Daddy? Is that you?”

  Norm shut his eyes. After a moment, he took a breath, “Yes… Natalie.” He opened his eyes, “Now, what did I always tell you?”

  She smiled, and whispered, “It’s not how you start, it’s—it’s how you finish.”

  “Yes!” Norm exclaimed, and then lowered his voice, shifting his gaze towards the sound of louder voices, “And now, Janus needs you to get him out of here, do you
understand?”

  She squinted at him, her head had stopped rolling.

  “OK…Daddy.”

  Hot tears ran down Norm’s face, “Now get up and move.”

  Heavy boots sounded down the railway. The Inferni were coming.

  Natalie’s head returned to the ground and she grunted, “I—I need to move. Middleton…Magnus…” She leaned heavily against the wall, forcing herself up while cradling Janus.

  “Good, good.” Norm peered ahead, crawling through the tunnel. “I’m right here, just beside you.”

  Natalie nodded slowly, her eyes closing and opening as if she were about to faint.

  Norm felt like a caged animal, but he kept his voice calm and measured, “Janus sure is a good baby.”

  “Yeah, he is…” her voice was stronger as she pulled herself forward. She staggered, and Norm gasped, but she caught herself against the wall. “I’m alright.” She gritted her teeth. “Pretty sure you told me you went through worse when you were younger. Janus was the one who—”

  “There she is!”

  Natalie’s head snapped up at the cry and Norm pressed himself against the bars. Dark shadows reached menacingly down the railway. Norm could see a rush of adrenaline hit Natalie, and she pulled her hand from the wall. She clutched her side with one hand and cradled Janus with the other. Pounding footsteps thrummed in Norm’s ears and he struggled after her. Despite her wounds, she was suddenly running, looking as graceful as Norm had ever seen her.

  But Norm’s access way was curving upward, and Natalie’s was disappearing from sight. He pulled himself forward, ignoring the sharp edges that cut into his hands and sides. Sounds of pursuit grew fainter by the moment, and Norm flopped onto a small maintenance platform connected to a meeting of huge gutters – a remnant of a time when rain still reached the factory levels.

  The gutters overlooked a wide bridge, spanning the gap between two massive factories. Broken railings offered little protection to those upon it. As he stood, Natalie emerged from below, pursued by S.T.s on the ground. The roar of many jump jets surrounded him as Inferni leapt past on all sides. Norm shrank to the floor, but the Inferni had little cause to look back into his dark corner. Their prey was right in front of them.