Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles 1: Wizard Defiant

by Rodney Hartman

  The demon was flung back a step by the lightning bolt, but with a roar, it raised its forelegs and began to form its own ball of energy.

  Spell, Rick, said Nickelo. Run!

  Richard momentarily thought about activating a defensive shield, but he immediately dropped the idea. He knew he wasn’t trained enough in shields to withstand the amount of Power he sensed the demon preparing to release his way. On the other hand, he sensed a powerful shield forming behind him. Forgoing valor in favor of self-preservation, Richard turned and dived along the floor in a slide he hoped would take him past the sorceress.

  As he slid, Richard saw the sorceress holding her staff and dagger before her. Each of her rings and her necklace glowed as she shouted words which Richard heard but quickly forgot. A glowing sphere appeared as a two meter circle around the elf. Just before Richard made contact with the sphere, the lower part dulled in color long enough for him to pass through. He felt a cold chill run through his body, but it quickly passed.

  The energy from the demon engulfed the sphere, and the sorceress was driven back two steps. The shield dimmed, but it brightened sharply as the sorceress renewed her chanting. It seemed as if she was concentrating all her efforts on defense. Richard brought up his M63 lightweight plasma assault rifle and sent a burst of thirty rounds at the demon’s eyes.

  No! said Nickelo. You’re lucky those rounds passed through the sorceress’ shield. They could have ricocheted around inside until both of your looked like Swiss cheese.

  Richard wasn’t sure what Swiss cheese was, but he got the picture. He hadn’t thought it through. But hell, it wasn’t like either the Academy or marine recon had conducted training on sorceresses and their shields. As it turned out, the plasma rounds hadn’t even distracted the demon. It actually laughed when the rounds hit.

  Sorry, Richard said. Should I try a grenade?

  No, said Nickelo. This demon is beyond your current skill level. The female seems to be holding her own for the moment. She’s obviously a competent sorceress. I’d recommend running downstairs and trying for one of the exits we mapped. We can regroup once we are safely somewhere else.

  Leaving the sorceress was not an option in Richard’s mind. Marine recon never left a teammate, and he wasn’t going to do so as a wizard scout. Although they had just met, the sorceress and he were in this fight together against a common enemy. Richard wasn’t going to desert her.

  As it was, he’d lost his chance to run anyway. His passive scan picked up a mass of life forms gathering at the base of the stairs below. His attention was quickly drawn back to the intersection as three canine-like creatures the size of small ponies came charging around the corner. Richard heard a gasp from the sorceress. Her shield started to dim.

  Richard brought his M63 in line with the head of the nearest canine. He let loose with a score of plasma rounds. They tore into the creature’s head. Its brain matter splattered its two companions who were hard on its heels. Richard continued to hold the M63’s trigger down as he tracked the stream of plasma rounds into the chest of a second canine. It was thrown backwards as a spray of liquid began spurting from its chest. The third canine jumped over its fallen brethren and leaped straight for the elf’s throat.

  Richard let go of his M63 and let it dangle from its strap. He threw himself between the elf and the canine and took the brunt of the creature’s charge. He twisted as he was thrown backward just missing the elf behind. His twist managed to throw the creature off to the right where it slammed into the wall. Richard was on it in a heartbeat swinging his phase rod with all his might. Half a dozen blows later, a bloody ball of fur lay at his feet.

  The demon was throwing bolt after bolt of energy at the sorceress, but her shield continued to hold. However, Richard could sense the Power in her staff, rings, and necklace being steadily diminished. He knew the sorceress could not keep up her defensive shield much longer. The demon was just too powerful. Instead of growing weaker as it used Power, it seemed to be growing stronger with each passing moment.

  Rick, said Nickelo. Behind you.

  When Richard turned, he saw a mass of undead charging up the stairs. His passive scan picked up even more gathering behind them. The sorceress must have sensed them as well, because she took a quick glance over her shoulder. But she either trusted Richard to handle the situation, or she knew it was hopeless. In either case, the sorceress returned her gaze to the front and began shouting even louder.

  Nick, Richard said. Help me aim.

  Richard felt the arms of his battle suit move involuntarily as Nickelo took control. The M63 lightweight plasma assault rifle made a steady ‘Brrrrp’ as the stream of plasma rounds made their way from one undead creature’s head to another. After almost a thousand rounds, the stairway was clear.

  Making a command decision, Richard turned to the sorceress and shouted, “Start backing down the stairs. I’ll keep it clear.”

  The sorceress was too hard-pressed to argue. She immediately took two steps backwards. Richard deactivated his phase rod and hooked it back to his hip. With his now free hand, he grabbed hold of the female’s belt and slowly guided her down the steps and between the corpses littering the stairs. Twice the sorceress started to slip on the gore, but each time, Richard’s grasp steadied her. She did not falter, and even during her near falls, the sorceress did not stop chanting. Richard thought the Power in her staff and jewelry were only about half of what it had been when the battle began. Time was running short.

  Halfway down the stairs, Richard’s passive scan detected another mob of undead gathering just beyond his view. He stopped and unhooked one of his anti-personnel grenades. Pulling the pin, he tossed it far down the stairs where it bounced into the tunnel beyond.

  Boom!

  Smoke filled the end of the tunnel.

  I don’t think grenades will destroy them, Rick. You have to hit them in the head.

  Maybe so, Nick, Richard said. But it will mess up their charge. Besides, it makes me feel a whole lot better. With those words, Richard threw his second grenade down the stairs.

  Boom!

  Grabbing hold of the sorceress’ belt again, Richard began guiding her slowly down the stairs. Occasionally, an undead or two would appear at the tunnel’s entrance. Whenever they did, Richard happily put a few rounds of plasma energy in their heads as a show of appreciation for their efforts.

  Watch your ammo, Rick, said Nickelo. You’re down to nine hundred and eighty-three rounds.

  Affirmative, Richard said.

  When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the demon shouted, “You shall not get away!”

  The demon was too large to fit down the stairs. However, it doubled the amount of energy it was throwing at the sorceress’ shield. Lightning bolts and balls of fire exploded all around. The sorceress’ shield held firm. However, the ceiling over the stairway did not fare as well. It began to crack. Large chunks soon began to fall. Several pieces of falling granite tumbled through the sorceress’ shield. Richard had a moment’s thought that the sorceress’ shield must be attuned to energy and not physical objects. Then the whole ceiling started to give way.

  Richard thought the override command for his battle suit as he gave full control to Nickelo. Richard knew his own reflexes were not fast enough to save their lives, but he prayed his battle computer was.

  The battle suit twisted and its legs extended so fast Richard and the sorceress were flung a dozen steps into the tunnel. Richard heard an explosion of air from the sorceress as the tug on her belt forced her breath out. Her defensive shield disappeared, but it didn’t matter. The whole stairway and part of the tunnel were collapsing. The demon was hidden from view as they went flying through the air. They both hit the stone floor of the tunnel hard.

  She’s going to have a few bruises, observed Nickelo.

  The armor of Richard’s battle suit easily absorbed the blow. The sorceress’ fall was partially softened by the numerous bodies of the undead littering the floor, but even so, Richa
rd heard a cry of pain escape her lips as she hit.

  Richard stood up and surveyed the carnage to his front. They were completely trapped in the lower tunnels. Richard was not happy with the situation. With the amplified hearing of the battle suit, Richard could hear the demon screaming threats of the tortures that awaited them. He’d made a dangerous enemy, and he wasn’t even sure why. Richard had Nickelo lower the volume on the amplification when the demon started swearing how it would hunt them down, and how it would never stop searching for them.

  No use worrying about the future when the present seems bad enough, eh Nick?

  Amen to that, brother, said Nickelo with a chuckle. Then he said, We’ve got company, Rick.

  Sure enough, a handful of the undead Nickelo had called ghouls were scrambling down the tunnel. Richard activated his phase rod and met them before they could reach the downed sorceress. She had just started to push herself up into a sitting position when Richard jumped past her. He quickly dispatched two of the ghouls when the third knocked him over and began tearing at his chest with its claws and teeth.

  Richard heard the sorceress shout a word. A small ball of energy struck the ghoul in the head knocking it off Richard. He looked at the sorceress to thank her. She was just lowering a wand when a dark body hurled into her from the side. The sorceress screamed, and the scream cut off abruptly. Richard pulled out his .44 caliber AutoMag and fired from the hip.

  Boom!

  The ghoul’s head exploded. Richard turned behind him and fired twice more. Two more ghouls fell to the tunnel floor. Then all was quiet.

  Richard crawled to the sorceress and yanked the lifeless ghoul off her body.

  Nick. Is she alive?

  He touched her neck with a gloved finger. He did not feel a pulse. I should be able to feel a pulse, Nick. The sensory threads should allow me to feel a pulse, right?

  Use your passive scan, Rick. Can you still sense her life force?

  Yes, Richard said as he let out a breath of relief.

  Then she’s still alive, Rick. The ghoul’s poison has her paralyzed. That’s all. Her heartbeat and breathing will be slower than normal, but that’s not a problem. However, my electronic scan indicates she’s bleeding extensively from her arm. I think the ghoul got its teeth into her there.

  White light, Nick. Give me white light.

  I would advise against that, Rick.

  Now, Richard said firmly.

  Richard’s visor lost its red glow, and a white light shown from his forehead. The sorceress was covered in blood and gore. Her eyes were open and unblinking. A deep set of four claw marks ran down her left arm where they ended in a vicious bite wound. Blood spurted out of the bite wound in time to the female’s heartbeat. Richard tore off the hem of the sorceress’ robe and used one of her wands to help tie off a tourniquet. The blood stopped squirting into the air.

  We have to get to someplace safe, Richard said. We’ve got to do something about her wound. She’ll die. Can we make it to an exit?

  Doubtful, said Nickelo. Not dragging her with us. We’d have to fight our way there. We can’t go into stealth mode and drag her around at the same time. It would be too noisy. Look at the life forces headed our way even now.

  Richard didn’t need to look at the heads-up display. He could sense a hundred creatures or more moving quickly down the tunnels in their direction.

  What about the secret room? Richard said. It should be close.

  That’s probably our best chance if you want to save the sorceress’ life, said Nickelo. Of course, an even better plan would be for us to leave her here while we go into stealth mode and make our escape.

  Richard didn’t say anything. He demonstrated his answer to his battle computer by picking up the sorceress and draping her over his shoulder. He stooped down and grabbed her staff, wand and dagger.

  Okay, said Nickelo. Secret room it is. I’m switching to normal battle suit vision now.

  The white light went out, and Richard saw the entire cavern illuminated in a reddish glow once more. Saving the sorceress might not be his battle computer’s first choice, but Richard had to admit Nickelo did things as efficiently as possible once a decision was made. Within ten minutes, they were back inside the secret room with the door securely shut behind them.

  Richard had Nickelo go back to white light. The sorceress’ arm below the tourniquet was starting to turn a dark blue. Richard knew he had to loosen the tourniquet, but he also knew as soon as he did, the blood would start squirting out again. The ghoul’s bite must have hit an artery.

  Marine recon training included basic first aid, but Richard didn’t even have a first aid kit. It wasn’t part of a wizard scout’s uniform. Real wizard scouts could self-heal, and most wizard scouts could use their Power to perform limited healing on others. But Richard had not been trained in healing yet. That was junior year stuff.

  Richard looked at the sorceress helplessly. Nick, do you have any suggestions? I don’t even have a first aid kit.

  Just get one out of your pack, Rick, said Nickelo

  Richard practically tore the pack off his back and looked inside.

  It’s empty, Nick. If you’re not going to help, then don’t say anything.

  Sorry, Rick. We haven’t gone over your pack yet. It’s a dimensional pack. You just think of an item, and you can pull it out of your pack.

  So many impossible things had happened to Richard over the last few days that he just accepted Nickelo at his word without arguing. He thought of a fully-equipped android doctor and reached into the pack. Nothing.

  Nick! Richard said.

  You didn’t let me finish, Rick, said Nickelo. You can pull anything out of the pack within certain limitations. The more complex the item, the more Power it takes to energize the pack. An android doctor is too advanced. You don’t have that much Power even when your reserve is full. Imagine any antique medical gear from your old Earth, or even one of your marine recon first-aid kits. That should work fine.

  Richard was desperate to save the elf’s life. He wasn’t even sure why. He’d seen many people die during his two years of combat with the marine recon. But nevertheless, Richard had an overwhelming desire to help the paralyzed sorceress. He didn’t have a lot of faith, but even so, he pictured a standard-issue, marine first-aid kit. Richard felt a small amount of Power flow from his reserve to his pack. He looked inside again. This time he saw an olive drab, canvas covered box about the size of his hand. It was a field first-aid kit.

  Removing the pressure bandage, antiseptic, and liquid skin from the kit, Richard placed them next to the sorceress’ arm. He undid the tourniquet. Blood started shooting out of the bite wound into the air. Richard spayed some antiseptic in the bite and claw wounds. He followed it up with a long squirt of liquid skin. The claw marks partially closed up, but the bite wound was too deep for liquid skin to help much. Plus, it could not reconnect whatever severed artery was spurting the blood. Richard knew the sorceress was in serious trouble. He didn’t know if a sorceress had any healing abilities, but even if she did, they would do her no good paralyzed as she was. It was up to him to save her. Richard placed the pressure bandage over the bite wound and pressed down.

  After about thirty seconds, Richard said, Nick, has her bleeding stopped?

  Negative, Rick. An artery is torn apart. You’re going to have to connect the two ends together if you want to save her life.

  How? Richard said as he realized he was coming to rely more and more on his battle computer for advice.

  You’re going to have to heal her, Rick. The same way TAC Officer Shatstot heals the other cadets.

  I don’t know how, Nick. I’m not trained.

  I know you’re not, Rick. But the basics are all in my databanks. Besides, training is mostly for the subtle stuff. The ability to heal others is a part of your natural abilities, Rick. You’ve just never tried to use them. I’ll guide you as much as I can if you need help.

  If I gave you control, Nick, could you just
take over my abilities and heal her yourself?

  It doesn’t work that way, Rick. You’re an emp-healer. There aren’t many of your kind around for good reason. You have to take the person’s injuries on yourself before your Power can heal them.

  That’s crazy, Richard said.

  Nevertheless, Rick, that’s how your healing ability works. Most wizard scouts heal others directly. But once again, you seem to have an affinity for doing things the hard way.

  Fine then, Richard said. Let’s do it.

  Richard could feel the pressure bandage getting soaked with blood. The sorceress was bleeding to death as they spoke. Richard tried to understand why the female’s life meant so much to him, but he couldn’t even explain it to himself. Maybe it was because she had risked her own life thinking she was saving his. Unbeknownst to her, the ghoul’s teeth and claws would not have penetrated his armor. She had risked her own life for no reason.

  All right, Rick, said Nickelo. I’ll guide you through the healing process. The methodology is pretty simple, although it will take you years of practice to perfect it. You’ll normally be striving for efficiency, but in this case you just need to get the artery reconnected and the wound healed. Don’t worry about efficiency. Your healing will be drawing Power from that second Power pool the technicians told you about, so your primary Power reserve won’t be affected.

  What about the poison? Richard said.

  Wounds are one thing, Rick. Poisons and diseases are another. You’ll need advanced training for them. But, the poison won’t kill her. The wounds will. That’s what you need to heal. Are you ready?

  Ready, Richard said. He was a little nervous. A person’s life depended on him getting it right.

  Fine, Rick. Healing is similar to an active scan. That’s why the scan is taught first. Your healing will be a little different from the way most wizard scouts heal, but not much. Do you see your primary Power reserve?

  Yes, Richard said. He had always seen it, even when he was a young child. Or maybe seen was the wrong word. It was more like feeling it. He knew it was there.