by Jason Cheek
“Wait Startüm, you can’t go after them alone, its suicide!”
Susan’s boots began sliding across the asphalt as I continued towards the SUV, when the Chief’s grandfatherly voice rang out behind me.
“I thought you gave me your word that we would head after these monsters together!”
Registering his words, I stopped suddenly as my Klavikian honor began warring with my Werewolf’s rage.
“You promised to give me an hour Son.”
Grimly, I looked back over my shoulder at the Chief, Agent Foster, Detective Kurwoski and the rest of the officers, agents and my students that had come running up at my howl. Even Sergeant O’Reilly was there! Slowly, I looked into the eyes of the men and women gathered around. I saw their fear, but not one of them flinched away from my piercing glowing gaze.
“If you die, Son, how will that help your people?”
I could hear my Grandsire’s wisdom in the Chief’s words.
“Help us fight these monsters, and we will make them pay together.”
I felt the wolf inside me settle down as it agreed with the wisdom in the Chief’s words. There was strength in numbers. Any Werewolf knew it was better hunting as a Pack than as a lone wolf. Throwing my life away would help no one! If I wanted the Tuonellians to pay for their atrocities, then I had to survive this next battle and take the fight to them.
Breathing out deeply, I mentally pictured the process of putting away the mind numbing grief behind a locked door in my mind. I would deal with it later once there was time, but for now there was work to do. With the decision made, the tension left my body. Turning to face the Chief, I felt Susan lay a gentle hand on my shoulder as hope shined in her eyes, that woman knew my mood swings too well.
I gave Susan a weak smile in thanks. The overwhelming rage that had been boiling in my veins receded to the point where I could think clearly once again. Meeting the Chief’s steady gaze, I addressed the men and women around me.
“Your modern weaponry will not work against these creatures.”
The Chief nodded at my words.
“Why not?”
Pulling out one of my Katanas, I held up the blade with the flat side facing the crowd in front of me. With a slight push of Will, I triggered the runes engraved into the metal. Suddenly, the blade glowed with a brilliant blue light.
“My weapons and armor have been inscribed with runes of power. For any weapon, that has been forged from Earth’s metals, to be strong enough to destroy a Scourge or Demon. A three part process needs to be followed. First, runes must be designed to work with the properties of the metal being used. Secondly, the metal being used needed to be strong enough not to shatter on impact, even with the extra strength imparted by the runes. Lastly, the weapon must be large enough to hold the rune formula being inscribed. Your modern weapons armor piercing rounds contain metals that break apart into tiny pieces upon impact, which are individually too weak to penetrate without rune magic. Even with rune magic, I doubt the metal pieces could pierce their hides.”
“Then tell me what will work.”
For a moment, I stood there considering the question thoughtfully as I felt everyone’s eyes watching me! When suddenly the idea hit me! I’d used Rök runes to increase the strength my own Earth forged armor, but there was no reason I couldn’t use the same technique for Earth forged swords! I didn’t even need to inscribe the runes in the metal for a throw away weapon, I could use something like a permanent marker to temporarily get the same effect. Depending on the strength of the alloy, the weapon might only last for a couple of hits, but that was better than nothing.
“If you could get your hands on some steel swords, I believe I can modify them in time for the attack.”
Detective Kurwoski rolled her eyes.
“Great, where are we going to find a bunch of swords in the next forty minutes?”
The Chief held his chin thoughtfully when Sergeant O’Reilly interrupted gruffly.
“Does it have to be a sword per say?”
I looked at the SWAT leader with a hard face.
“What do you mean Sergeant?”
“I mean, couldn’t it be any hand weapon as long as it was large enough to hold the runes you’re talking about?”
Thinking about the runes I’d have to use, I continued.
“The metal would have to be at least four inches long, and one inch wide for me to do what I needed to make this work. Why, what do you have in mind Sergeant?”
Ignoring my question, the Sergeant smiled. “You know Chief, there’s a Sporting Goods store just around the corner. I know its closed and all, but I was thinking. We could confiscate what we needed in the sake of National Security. They don’t have any of those fancy swords like Mr. Samurai’s here was talking about, but they do have a bunch of tactical manufactured tomahawks and machetes. They even have a large collection of those old Rambo style hunting knifes. Not to mention a bunch of other stuff we might be able to use, like high tech crossbows.”
The Sergeant gave me a toothy grin meeting my eyes.
“Do you think you could work with that, Boy?”
Visibly swelling at the challenge in the Sergeant’s words, I felt myself take a half step forward as I fought to control my Werewolf’s natural instinct to dominate the man that rose up inside of me. I understood, on one level, the man needed to show his men that he was still ‘The Man’, even when it irritated the hell out of me. Either way, I had to admit the Sergeant had an excellent point. Seeing the tension between us, the Chief stepped forward clapping the Sergeant on the shoulders.
“Well Sergeant, what the hell are you still doing here? I needed those weapons here ten minutes ago!”
Visibly annoyed at the Chief’s dismissal, the Sergeant gave me one last look before turning around to face his men.
“SWAT teams one and two, we’re moving out!”
The Sergeant headed off at a quick run as his men fell in behind. As I watched them go, I saw Agent Moss immediately step forward to address Agent Foster.
“Sir, permission to join the Sergeant in acquiring weapons for my teams?”
I saw Agent Foster’s mind working as he watched the Sergeant heading out. Turning to Agent Moss, he gave a curt nod.
“Permission granted.”
Agent Moss gave a quick nod to his men standing in the circle, before taking off after the Sergeant. Suddenly, half of the group standing around us turned and left at a quick jog behind Agent Moss.
Watching the men heading towards the sporting goods store a block away, I was suddenly pulled back into the conversation as I heard Detective Kurwoski’s question.
“Startüm, I don’t understand how you plan to get the runes on the weapons.”
At everyone's questioning looks, I explained.
“Well, we’ll also need a bunch of magic markers, preferably black.”
Seeing the Beth’s confused look I explained.
“I just need to get the runes on the weapons. Don’t get me wrong. Inscribing the runes directly into the metal, of course, would be better, and make the weapons far stronger. But, for our purposes, we just need the weapons to be strong enough to last through one battle.” Seeing everyone nod in understanding at my logic, a wiry smile came to my lips. “In theory, the concept should work.”
I saw the Chief wince at my last words. Muttering to Beth, he headed back towards the temporary command center as the crowd around us began breaking up.
“Detective, please assist Mr. Ironwolf with his theory.”
Beth waited for the Chief to get out of range before turning to me once again. Exasperated, she spoke with her hands as the ladies from my advanced class gathered around.
“Do you honestly think magic marker will work? I mean that sounds so …” I left her hanging for a second as she struggled to find the right words, before chiming in with a smile.
“So cheap … too simple?”
“I don’t know.” Sheepishly, she looked at Susan and the other students
, “it just kind of takes away from the whole mystic. Saying you’re going to inscribe magical runes sounds crazy enough, but using a magic marker to do it makes it sound like a bad joke.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I tried to explain. “Unfortunately you’d just joined the advanced class when all of this happened, so you haven’t had any experience with working with runes. Once you get used to the concept, it starts making a lot more sense. Your right in one way, certain substances provide extra power to any magic like salt, blood and certain types of metal, but the core elements needed for any type of rune based magic are the symbols being used and the Will to infuse the power.”
Showing her my Katana, I continued the impromptu lesson.
“When I crafted these blades, I inscribed the runes deep into the metal. The runes became a part of the actual forging processes. They will never be rubbed out or become faded. This sword will last forever, unless some greater power can focus enough arcane energy to shatter the blade. The magic marker processes that I’m suggesting we use, will enhance these weapons innate sharpness and strength. Enabling them to puncture even the Scourge’s natural armor, but if these symbols are rubbed off or damaged in any way, then the weapon will lose its power immediately.”
I saw Beth nodding her head in understanding as I sheathed my blade over my shoulder.
“If you can find enough markers and sheets of paper for all of us, we can get to work once the weapons arrive.”
“That should be easy enough to find.” She took off for the front of the CTA building yelling over her shoulder. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Susan started following Beth to give her a hand, but I put my hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
“Could you stay?” Looking at the ladies surrounding me, “we need to talk about this next fight.”
Lowering myself to the ground, I sat Indian style as the ladies of my class joined me in a tight circle, sitting knee to knee. Similar to how our classes would normally start.
“I never wanted to put any of you ladies in danger, and I can’t guarantee that I will be able to protect you once the shit hits the fan.”
“Don’t even try to talk us out of this Startüm. You have been there for every one of us at one time or another.” I couldn’t help but smile at Deanna’s spunky attitude, but seeing the looks on the faces around the circle, I knew I was in for a fight. I could tell the ladies were not planning to let me go alone tonight, so I tried to be stern with them.
“There is an enormous difference between doing a little healing or helping someone out of a tight jam, then facing the possibility of having your face ripped off. Some of you are single mothers with no one to take care of your children if you don’t come back.”
Susan next words were laden heavy with her southern accent.
“If you hadn’t healed my terminal cancer, I would have been dead four months ago, Hon, and that’s no small thing in my book!”
Quiet Terra looked up from her feet meeting my yellow eyes. Her chin shook from fear, but her back was straight as she spoke with a calm voice.
“My son would have died if you hadn’t healed him from the beatings his father gave him. We would have been killed if you hadn’t stopped him when you did.” Looking around the circle, she smiled fondly at the other ladies continuing. “Even if I don’t return, my son will be looked after. We have already discussed the matter together.”
Cindy gripped Terra’s hand in her own as she met my eyes. She looked so small and fragile, but she was far from weak. She had learned both the healing and martial arts of Ukko with fervor unlike any other student I’d taught before. Somehow, through all of the horror of her childhood, she had kept her personal honor amidst a life that would have crushed a lesser person.
“Our class is the first family I’ve ever had that was worth anything. I would go to hell and back to protect them.” Suddenly she blushed before continuing. “And, you are the first man I‘ve ever met that wasn’t abusive to me or cruel to my son. The gifts you have selflessly given have changed our lives forever.” I saw a tear roll down her cheek. “How can I not come tonight?”
The other ladies added in their own thanks for the help I’d freely given them during their own times of need. Suddenly, they were all hugging me. It was their way of saying they were with me through hell or high waters. I felt the wall I’d thrown up on my grief begin to weaken as I hastily wiped a tear from my eye. The raw emotions were still there as I forced the other tears away, but this time when I pushed the intense feelings away, I felt suddenly better. Maybe, it was because I didn’t feel so alone, or maybe, it was that my arms were full of physically fit sexy women, but I couldn’t help but grin like a school boy.
It was undeniably different training with women than it was with men!
“What the hell is going on here? I’m away for ten minutes, and I come back to this?”
Our impromptu hug fest broke up as Beth returned with an armful of markers and paper. Susan saw her questioning look as we broke the circle, grinning wirily.
“Oh, this big oaf was trying to talk us out from joining the fight tonight, and we were explaining to him that wasn’t going to happen.”
A sardonic smile touched Beth lips as she plopped the arm full of stuff she had on the ground.
“I agree! The only way we are going to have any chance, is if we hit them as hard as we can with everything we’ve got. I’m glad to see you’re listening to them, but” nodding her head back towards the officers standing further away watching “you’re getting the boys a little too excited.”
Looking back at the officers watching from the command post, I saw we had an audience. Turning around suddenly, I tried to hide my grin as I got on my knees. Luckily the position mostly hid my blushing cheeks. Quickly, I went to work drawing out what was needed as the women gathered around to watch, when I heard Susan comment behind me.
“He’s so cute when he blushes like that, don’t you think Terry?”
“It’s such a lovely shade of red.”
The ladies loved it when they could make me blush. You’d think by now I would be immune to their teasing, but it always had the same effect on me as I turned an even brighter shade of red. I continued working, acting like I didn’t hear their bantering at my expense. Slowly their words faded away as I concentrated on getting the formula right.
I had done a lot of testing over the years on strengthening Earth metals for use with armor, so I figured I should be able to figure something out for Earth weapons. On the fifth try, I had something that I liked, and by the eighth try I had a formula I believed would work. At least, I hoped it would function the way I’d envisioned.
All matter has an eight fold structure, which was created from the four physical elements of earth, fire, air and water and the metaphysical elements of love, hate, soul and magic. These elements represented the eight pillars of the universe that evolved out of chaos. Unlike humans, the ancient Klavikian alchemists didn’t look at science as being based purely in the logic of the physical world only, but as a combination of the physical and metaphysical worlds. Every piece of matter in the universe was based off of the four primary elements, which created its physical composition, and at its core the four primary metaphysical elements, which created its metaphysical energy. Rök runes were used as a conduit between an objects physical properties and its metaphysical energy, which, depending upon the runes used, could enhance an item in many ways. I didn’t know all of the combinations, I doubted that anyone did. I wasn’t even particularly knowledgeable by Klavikian standards, since my formal training on runic lore had stopped when I was only eight. Surprisingly, my Grandsire had known quite a bit about rune magic, and he’d shared his knowledge with me over the years, but mostly my education had come from trial and error.
The rune formula I came up with should enhance the strength and penetration that was already a natural aspect of the physical elements the weapons were created from, only reinforced significantly by metaphysical energ
y. Looking over the paper, I considered several more reconfigurations, but in the end I kept what I had. Due to the way I was applying the runes, I figured it would be best if I kept the runes on both sides of the weapon the same. The nicest thing about that was it kept the design simple. Unfortunately, the down side to that was, I only had about four to six inches of space to work with.
I was in the process of making a manual copy for each of my students to use, when my subconscious registered movement at the far side of the circle. The ladies were making a hole as I heard the familiar clinking sounds of equipment being carried, when I heard Sergeant O’Reilly obnoxious voice.
“Let’s see if he can catch this John!”
The sound of something heavy cutting through the air came to me a second later as I heard a sharp intake of breath from Deanna next to me. In my peripheral vision, I saw the glint of metal flying at my head. Casually, I snatched the tomahawk from the air a second before impact without looking up from what I’d been writing. Glancing at the weapon for a moment, I held the flat of the blade over the design I’d just finished copying on the paper in front of me as a nervous muttering came from the men behind the Sergeant.
The runes would fit nicely.
I began copying the Rök runes once again, but this time on the tomahawk as I spoke without looking up.
“Good work gentlemen! These weapons will work out nicely. Sergeant O’Reilly, have your men put the stuff down here.”
I patted the ground next to me, before going back to work on the opposite side of the tomahawk. The Sergeant obnoxiously dropped his gear next to me, but his men were more subdued as they carefully place the equipment they were carrying on the same spot. Looking up, I noticed that the men looked roughed up. Arms folded over his chest, I could feel the annoyance radiating out from the Sergeant as his men gathered behind him.
Hearing more footsteps, I stood up with the finished weapon as Agent Moss and his men were walking up with more gear. His men looked noticeably better than the SWAT teams. I gave him a quick head nod in greeting as I looked between him and Sergeant O’Reilly.
