Strikeforce

by Nick James

  As soon as I get there, I crouch on my knees, as if in prayer. I close my eyes and try to focus, but it’s impossible. My whole body’s in an unstoppable panic. Worse, I can’t stop thinking about Cassius. I don’t know what’s up with him suddenly being able to Shift, but even with that—even as good a fighter as he is—he’s no match for Matigo. Not by himself.

  “Please please please please please.” I mutter the words under my breath.

  I lock on to the first Pearl I can find. It’s not too far away, so I yank it forward with the pull of my mind.

  Mistake.

  The ship lurches. The lights in the bay flicker off before resuming full power. An unsettling rumble spreads along the ground as the emergency thrusters power on. I must have taken one from the generator. We’ll be able to run on half power using whatever energy’s left inside, but unless there’s another Pearl hanging around here somewhere, I just doomed the Academy to a crash landing.

  I can’t think of the consequences now.

  “Please please please.”

  I feel the energy stream closer, so near I can reach out and touch it.

  When I open my eyes, it hovers before me, a green glow spotlighting my face. I grab hold and pull it close to my chest. The energy calms me for a moment, at least until the question pops into my mind.

  I’ve got the Pearl. One Pearl. Against Matigo.

  What’s the best way to use it?

  41

  Cassius pulled himself to his feet, even though every last nerve ending was screaming in protest for him to give up. It’s not worth it, his body told him. You’ll never win.

  But he had to try.

  Slick tendrils of ooze came up at him from the churning river of Ridium underfoot. They grabbed onto his arms, legs—anything they could find—and attempted to pull him back down. It took all the concentration he could muster to defend against them, keep his footing. One wrong move and he would be swallowed. Suffocated.

  All the while, Matigo approached. He took slow, deliberate footsteps, collecting errant Ridium as he went. Cassius felt his own suit begin to pull from his body. Matigo was slowly taking it over, like a magnet yanking harder than Cassius could match. If he didn’t have Ridium, he was finished.

  With one last gasp, he conjured a whip, extended from his right arm. It cracked through the air, long enough to wrap around Matigo’s neck. Without wasting a moment, Cassius conjured fire. He allowed it to stream down the length of the coil until it met with Matigo’s skin.

  “Aargh!” Matigo staggered backward, visibly surprised by the effectiveness of the attack. It fractured his concentration just long enough for Cassius to Shift a stiltlike device of his own, which launched him up through the air, making a wide arch over Matigo’s head. He softened the fall by sculpting a Ridium slide. He landed on his feet, free from the sludge of darkness on the opposite side of Matigo.

  Matigo laughed. “Fire? Of course. You’re lucky. Two powers are better than one, even undeveloped as they are.”

  Cassius responded by thrusting his hand out in front of him and conjuring a torrent of fire. It engulfed Matigo entirely, blazing for a short moment before the Ridium around him dulled it to a sizzle. He’d irritated him, maybe, but that was about the extent of it. And if that was all he could do, he was in trouble.

  Matigo attacked again, sending forth a flurry of Ridium daggers. They whizzed through the air toward Cassius, easily deflected. But they gave Matigo enough time to charge forward.

  Cassius flattened against the wall, narrowly avoiding him. With the moment he had left, he sprinted toward the docking bay. It was no use fighting in closed quarters like this. There wasn’t enough room to do anything besides defend against attack after attack. He’d become exhausted eventually.

  A dark tendril chased after him. He brushed it away as he careened into the bay.

  An open mouth of sky stretched before him, seventy-five yards away. Fisher’s idea repeated in his head—throw Matigo out into open air. Even if it didn’t get rid of him for good, it would at least get the monster off the ship.

  But he’d need to injure him somehow first. Otherwise, Cassius was sure that Matigo would just construct a vessel of Ridium and come right back. After all, he’d done the same just minutes ago. And if Cassius could do it, the King of Shifters certainly wouldn’t have a problem.

  Frantically, he scanned the room for weapons. He wasn’t as familiar with Skyships as he was the Surface. The last time he’d been in this bay was to capture Fisher. He hadn’t had time to look around then.

  Fisher.

  Madame and Eva, too.

  Had they run into the bay as well? Or had they escaped somewhere else? As far as he could tell, the vast space was empty. Other than a few shuttles parked on the edges, it stretched before him—a wide, flat chamber. Nothing to fight with, nowhere to hide.

  He spun to see Matigo, framed by the doorway. Before he could do or say anything, a tendril whipped at him, grabbing his waist in a tight, unbreakable squeeze.

  He fought against it, but even his own Ridium couldn’t pry him free. He noticed his suit streaming away from him in pieces, slipping from his skin to join Matigo’s supply. Matigo had taken it over as easily as lifting a finger. He’d taken charge of anything Cassius might have to use against him.

  He fought, kicking and squirming, as Matigo pulled him through the air. They met in the middle of the bay, Cassius cocooned from the neck down like a fly in Matigo’s web. Matigo held him tight, inches in front of his face. He turned so that Cassius could see the stars. It helped to have anything to focus on besides Matigo’s horrific features.

  “You didn’t really think that I was showing you all I had?” he whispered in Cassius’s ear. “I wanted to test you first. I wouldn’t mind a bit more, but you’re a liability that has to be dealt with quickly.”

  Cassius tried to summon fire again, but all he could manage was a few sparks from his fingers, which pointed straight at the ground, arms pinned to his sides. They had all the effect of a sparkler.

  “First you,” Matigo continued, “then your brother.”

  “No.”

  Matigo chuckled. “Oh, yes.”

  A second voice came from near the edge of the bay. “The boy said no. I suggest you listen.”

  Cassius looked up to see Madame’s silhouette, standing before the backdrop of stars beyond the docking bay’s mouth. She held an enormous blaster, the top half of it curving up to rest against her shoulder.

  “Cassius.” She flipped a switch on the side of the weapon. “To your left, please.”

  She pulled a series of triggers and the blaster opened up, revealing three holsters. A missile erupted from each, coming straight at them in a hypnotic pinwheel motion.

  Cassius understood immediately, and drew on all his remaining energy to throw his weight to the left. Matigo staggered only a step, but it was enough to tilt him in just the right direction. Right into the detonation zone.

  The missiles made contact all at once, sending a multi-pronged blast through Matigo’s entire body. Cassius was flung to the side. He landed on his stomach, several yards away.

  Matigo stumbled back, his body obscured by continued explosions as the missiles detonated in waves, attacking him like a hornet’s nest.

  Cassius raised his chin to watch Madame reload the blaster. She flipped the controls on the side once more.

  Then a massive tendril of black shot from the nexus of the explosions, headed straight at her.

  “Watch out!” Cassius could barely summon the words.

  He watched in horror as the band of black collided with Madame’s chest, sending the blaster toppling over her shoulder, onto the ground. It continued to push forward on her, so fast and strong that she didn’t have a hope of escape.

  Cassius attempted to stand, but found himself toppling over again. A hand of Ridium whipped from the explosion and pinned him down again.

  He watched as Madame was pushed from the docking bay, into open sky. She
didn’t even have time to scream.

  “No!” The word fractured as he shouted it. She was gone.

  Matigo dragged Cassius by the ankle, back into the fray. He flipped around on his back, trying to get control of some of the Ridium—Shift it into something useful. But try as he might, he couldn’t fight the mental block working against him. Even after the explosions, Matigo still had a better hold on the stuff.

  Then, just as he was about to be dragged right back into Matigo’s waiting arms, Fisher jumped out from somewhere behind them. He had a Pearl, and Matigo didn’t even notice.

  A bright-green explosion rattled the bay, directly behind Matigo’s back. The energy collided with the ground, looping up into a succession of what looked like green fists. Fisher channeled it, pummeling Matigo with each new blast of energy.

  The Ridium around Cassius’s ankles flew away, rejoining with Matigo’s body.

  Fisher continued to attack, punching at the air a safe distance behind Matigo. With each thrust, a new blast of Pearl energy swept up and forced him closer to the edge of the bay. Matigo struggled against it, but Madame’s missiles had weakened him. He was no match.

  Three more punches and Matigo fell out the mouth of the bay, taking the Ridium with him.

  Freefall. Done.

  For now.

  Fisher rushed to Cassius’s side, grabbing his shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  He shook his head, finding it hard to breathe. “She’s gone.” He stared up at his brother, panic in his eyes.

  “You’re gonna be okay.”

  “No,” he responded, pleading. “No, she’s gone.” His body sank to the ground. All fight left him. “Madame’s dead.”

  42

  Cassius is broken. Beyond whatever physical damage is done, I can sense it in his eyes. I’ve never seen him like this. Helpless. Lost.

  If he can’t stand up to Matigo, what chance do I have?

  I swallow, unsure of what to do next. The last of the Pearl energy dissipates, working its way into the circuitry of the ship. It’ll keep us aloft for awhile longer, not that that’s the problem I’m worried about.

  “Here.” I bend down to help Cassius up. He winces as I pull him to his feet. We stand in silence for a few moments. I watch his breathing slowly return to normal. There are no tears—no shouts or screams. I think this is beyond that kind of thing. When he finally does speak, it’s with an insignificant sort of tone. Almost disinterested.

  “Ankle’s twisted,” he mutters, then pulls away from me, limping to the mouth of the bay.

  I walk behind him. “Cassius! Don’t get too close … it’s dangerous.”

  Eva’s voice comes from behind me. “It’s okay, Jesse.”

  I turn to see her standing in the corner of the docking bay, a pistol in each arm. Neither weapon is big enough to do much damage. She must have known that the entire time. I’m sure she watched the whole thing, cursing herself for not getting to the big-ticket weapons first.

  “Give him a moment,” she continues. “It might be the only one he gets.”

  I nod, then turn to watch Cassius stop several yards from the open sky, arms against his sides, shoulders slumped.

  A battalion of Agents storm through the entrance and enter the bay, stopping as they notice the emptiness around them. They form a semi-circle in front of me, weapons at the ready, eyes darting around the room.

  “You’re too late,” I say. “He’s gone.”

  An Agent in the front lowers his weapon. “Killed?”

  I shake my head.

  Eva runs up beside me and grabs my arm. “I should’ve been faster. I hesitated. I … it wasn’t all her fight.”

  “I didn’t even see her,” I whisper. “Not until it happened. The Pearl blast—”

  “Hurt him,” she says, finishing my sentence. “Jesse, you’re the one who can stop him.”

  “I know, but I need more energy. I need all the Pearls I can get.”

  She swallows, then envelops me in a hug so sudden that it takes me by surprise. I have to remind myself that we haven’t seen each other since the bunker—that we lost contact shortly after. She probably thought I was dead. I certainly wasn’t sure if she was alive.

  She pulls back, expression grim. “How are you going to do it?”

  “With help from my friends,” I answer. “Beyond that, we’ve gotta change tactics.”

  One of the Agents approaches us, expression grim. “If I may, kid … uh … sir. This probably isn’t the safest place right now. If we can head up to the Bridge—”

  “Is Alkine okay?” I glance up at him.

  The guy nods. “Infirmary. He’s pulled through worse.”

  I nod. “We’ll head up to the Bridge, but here’s what’s gonna have to happen.”

  I expect the guy to interrupt, or laugh in my face, but he stays still, listening intently. It’s a far cry from how Agents usually treat me.

  “We’re bringing the Academy inland,” I say. “East. Cut the onboard power by … by … ” I look at Eva for assistance.

  “By forty-two percent,” she says. “Anything we don’t need goes. Dorm rooms, class rooms, extra temp control—all down. Put everything into the thrusters.” She turns to me. “Jesse, what are you thinking?”

  “I want to be central,” I respond. “Matigo knows we’re onboard. It’d be stupid to go into hiding. We’ll bring him back here, but I want to have an army when he shows up.”

  The Agent nods. “I’ll radio second-in-command.”

  Footsteps sound behind me. I turn to see Cassius walking toward us, face hardened again after that brief moment of vulnerability. “Whatever you’re thinking, we’ll need to move fast.”

  “Are you okay?” The words fade even as I’m saying them. Of course he’s not, and no matter how many times I ask, it’s not going to change.

  “When I was submerged in the Ridium,” he says, “when I became a Shifter, the world changed. I can see things that weren’t there before. Feel things that are invisible to you. That’s how I knew to be up here when Matigo attacked. That’s how I know what’s happening right now, below us on the Surface.” He pauses, looking at the ground for a moment before meeting my eyes once more. “It’s starting.”

  “What?”

  “The Flood,” he replies. “The Shifters are gathering. Matigo’s about to give the order. By this time tomorrow, we won’t have a world to fight for. I need to be on the Surface.”

  “I agree.”

  “My fire hurt him,” he continues. “Even if it was just for a second, it took him by surprise. My fire … your Pearls … ”

  “I know what you’re thinking.” I flash back to the words Matigo said just before he attacked. He’d been boastful—obviously thought we’d both be dead by now. But I remember exactly what he’d told me.

  The Key and the Catalyst together.

  He was scared of that. I don’t know why, and I don’t know exactly what Cassius and I are capable of, but there’s only one way to find out for sure. And with the world hanging in the balance, now’s as good a time as any for a leap of faith.

  43

  My controlled, eye-on-the-target veneer cracks as soon as I see Avery.

  It’s many minutes—maybe even an hour—since our confrontation with Matigo. She emerges at the bottom of the stairs as I trudge my way through the corridor, entire body shaking. She runs at me, arms outstretched. I let her pull me close, tears staining my face.

  “Oh my god,” she says. “Are you okay?”

  “No,” I respond.

  And it’s the truth. I couldn’t be less okay. Not only is my greatest enemy loose, with more power than I ever dreamed of, but my parents—and all the hope they held—are well and truly gone.

  “I’m such an idiot,” I whisper into her shoulder.

  “No, Jesse.”

  “Yes,” I continue. “I’ll believe anything anyone says. Isn’t that how it’s always been? I believed you when you were really working with Madame. I believed Alk
ine when he said he wanted to help with Pearls. And now … now … I’m so stupid … ”

  Avery pushes me away, holding onto my shoulders, looking straight into my eyes. “Jesse, he fooled everyone. There was no way you could’ve known.”

  I shake my head, my voice catching in my throat. “I’m never gonna see my parents.”

  Avery sighs, biting her lip. There’s nothing she can say to change things, and she knows it. “No,” she says finally. “But you can defeat the son of a bitch who killed them.”

  I close my eyes. I have no choice now. After what we just witnessed, I’m not sure that Cassius and I have a chance against Matigo. But I have to try. I have to do it for my parents. They died for what they believed in. I can’t let that be in vain.

  “Madame’s dead.” The words spill out of my mouth without my realizing it. I can tell instantly that they catch Avery off guard. Her lips part. Brows furrow in confusion. It’s like she can’t even believe that Madame was capable of dying. Or maybe she just isn’t sure how she should feel.

  “He killed her,” I continue, “back in the docking bay.”

  She swallows, her face once again regaining composure. “How’s Cassius?”

  “Not great,” I respond. “He’ll meet us in the Bridge soon. I think he needs some time. I wish we had more.”

  She nods. “Jesse, no matter what happens, you’ve gotta know that you’re not fighting this fight alone. You have friends—so many people who care about you—and we’re not going to let Matigo win.”

  “Thanks,” I say, though it’s completely hollow. She can reassure me as much as she wants, but somehow I know that this is going to come down to me and Cassius, just like it always has.

  ––––

  Fire.

  I’m back in the fire.

  I recognize it instantly as a dream, the continuation of the one I’d had before. I don’t know where I found the time or space to doze off, but sometime after talking with Avery, sleep must have gotten the better of me.