by Riker Kane
I raised my fists to block the attack. The goblin scratched harmlessly against the steel. A quick backhand sent it tumbling back.
“Finish it off.”
Jade’s instructions made my feet move on their own. I rushed forward. Before the goblin could get back to its feet, I clocked it on the side of the head and turned it into Mana orbs like the previous one.
I collected the Mana as Jade walked up behind me.
“You’re a fighter,” she said. “You have experience in a cage and in a ring. You know how to throw a punch. But you know how to defend, too. The gauntlets amplify everything you’re already capable of.”
“That must be why Redgrave thought my dad was the ideal Slayer…”
Jade gave me a half-hearted smile. “C’mon. The Obelisk is just ahead.”
The Obelisk was a monolith about as high as a basketball rim and as thick as a redwood. The jagged piece of rock resonated with a purple glow. I could barely make out the faint sound it pulsed with.
“This is it,” she said. “This is the objective of every Omega. Thousands of these things have been destroyed in an attempt to keep the threat at bay.”
“Looks like I’m doing my part for the good of humanity.” I reared back with a fist and swung. The Obelisk was thick but it was even frailer than glass. It shattered on impact and the pulsing purple energy faded like mist into the sky.
Jade stood next to me with her hands behind her back. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“Doesn’t seem like I’ll need your help.” I gave her a smirk. She didn’t seem offended, smiling back at me.
“I’m an Omega. Not a high-level one but I know how to handle myself. Dr. Redgrave provided me with some gear.”
“If I’m gonna make it to Anarchy, I’ll take every advantage I can get.”
“That’s the right attitude to have. Remember. It’s only gonna get harder from here. Omegas close Junctions then head back. We’re not stopping. We’re going as deep into Pandora as we can go.”
I looked out across the valley. The grass went all the way to the horizon with no end in sight. The thought of walking for miles without finding anything crossed my mind. I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t think it was a little intimidating.
But the little inkling of doubt forced me to smile in response. “Enjoy the now…”
7: Levels
Redgrave had taken off the covers from all of the equipment in the warehouse when we got back. Metal tables with crystal displays looked about as high-tech as you could get. It was damn strange to see such expensive-looking equipment in an old storage warehouse. The Junction Gate was still the weirdest thing of them all.
I stared at the resonating energy I just walked through then heard Redgrave call out to me.
“This way, Enzo.”
Jade and I headed toward the end of the room. There was a small metal podium with a digital tablet resting upon it. The screen was neon blue but blank.
“Your gauntlets have a built-in communicator like Omegas use, as I’m sure you’ve discovered with the Mana you’ve collected,” the old man explained. “On the display, you’ll be able to see your current levels, the status of the gauntlets, and whatever pertinent information you need in regards to this endeavor. You can use this display to apply the Mana you’ve collected on your first trip to Pandora. Hold your gauntlet up and try it now.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect but I followed his instructions. My left hand began to rumble and the information popped up on the digital display.
Enzo Drake
Level 1 Slayer
(1 level available)
Hit Points 100
Endurance 50
Strength 9
Speed 8
Durability 8
Control 5
“Would you look at that. That’s me… How’d it know?”
“As I said before, the gauntlets have a direct line to your nervous system. It’s connected to your mind and body, reading all of the available data.”
“Wait… It’s reading my thoughts? I don’t know if I like the sound of that…”
“It’s nothing invasive. It’s only drawing the details it needs to inform you of your body’s combat functions. Consider it a more concrete display of what already exists. It’s recorded your name without having to ask for it, for example.”
“That saves a lot of time. It says here I can gain a level.”
“When you defeat Shadows in Pandora, you acquire Mana. When you gain enough Mana, it can be applied to stat growth.”
I scanned over the stats. “Strength. Speed. Durability. All of that seems self-explanatory. Control?”
“Pandora isn’t like our world. As you know by now, it’s powered by Mana. Control is the measure of how you’re able to use the Mana surrounding you. Hence, ‘control’ being the operative word.”
“Makes sense… They’re really staying true to what the brochures mentioned.” I laughed at how absurd it was that I could actually strengthen myself and measure it so accurately. “Didn’t think that was real.”
“It’s definitely real. Return to this display after returning from Pandora to gain your levels. Try it now.”
“Okay—”
“Hold on a second.” Jade suddenly put a hand on my shoulder. The slight concern in her eyes made me confused.
“Something wrong?”
“This isn’t like lifting weights or running on a treadmill,” she said. “This is Red Mana. Once you approve the level, it’ll be in your system and it’ll take years to flush it away. I know you’re a retired fighter but you’re still young. Doing this will end your career indefinitely. Make sure this is the decision you want to make.”
“When you put it that way…”
Jade gave me something I didn’t consider. I’d seen guys training in the gym who were powered-up on Red Mana. All of the benefits of clean eating and training were amplified by it. It was like some super drug without any negative side effects. Choosing to do what Omegas did meant I’d cross a point of no return.
But it was an easy decision to make. The only thing that mattered was getting to Anarchy and saving my father.
“It’s okay.” I gave Jade a nod and she pulled her hand away. I turned back to the display and spoke to it. “Apply the levels.”
The screen blinked and text appeared above my stats.
Applying levels… Please standby…
I waited a few seconds and a sudden surge of energy pulsed through my hand. It was hard to describe. Hot. Cold. Like warm water tightening around my skin then injecting into my veins. I gritted my teeth with a soft grunt from the strange sensation.
“Your discomfort will only last a moment,” Redgrave assured me.
“That’s all right. It feels… good. Energizing.”
The hot and cold pulse in my veins slowly subsided and my updated stats reappeared on the screen.
Enzo Drake
Level 2 Slayer
(0 levels available)
Hit Points 100
Endurance 50
Strength 10 (+1)
Speed 8
Durability 8
Control 5
“How do you feel?” Jade asked.
I looked down at my arms. They weren’t much bigger than they were before but I noticed a difference with the gauntlets. They were a little lighter in my hands.
“I feel… stronger. This is kinda nice. I think I could get used to it.”
She smiled at me, seemingly proud of my enthusiasm.
“The gauntlets were specifically designed for the Slayer class,” Redgrave said. “Omegas usually have to distribute stat points themselves but the program I’ve created will choose stats for optimal growth to maximize your capabilities in combat.”
“Didn’t get to choose my class. Didn’t get to choose my weapons. Didn’t get to choose my stats. I’m not having any fun Omegas get to. Is there anything I get to choose?”
Redgrave chuckled at my
sarcastic tone. “I’m afraid not. The objective of the Slayer Project wasn’t to do its part. The Slayer was designated to do something more. Your father was at the front of the line in this war. Doing everything perfectly was a requirement, including distributing stats.”
“My old man always had to get things just right. I guess that makes sense. Now… That explains the levels. What’s all of this other equipment?”
Dr. Redgrave walked over to the longer digital display map. “Most of this other equipment is used for drawing readings from Pandora. I need to know where you’re going and what you’re facing. As it’s been explained to you earlier, I’ve mapped out a path for you to Anarchy. If my calculations are correct, I estimate you’ll have to venture through five distinct dimensions before reaching your destination.”
“Estimate? You mean you’re not sure how long it’ll take to get there?”
Redgrave shook his head. “Traveling through Pandora is not as simple as getting on a highway and listening to a GPS. You’re going to another dimension, moving from world to world tethered by energy we don’t fully understand. Imagine you’re trying to get from Los Angeles to New York if the roads constantly shifted, creating new pathways. Imagine if New York suddenly rotated its location south near Florida. You would get closer by moving east but you would still have to change your trajectory.”
The levels. Pandora. Even the people I was working with. None of it was exact. But I already had water around my ankles with Red Mana pumping through my veins. Might as well submerge myself right up to my neck.
“Okay,” I said with a nod. “I know how to get stronger. I’ve got some idea of where I’m going. Jade mentioned something about leveling the gauntlets.”
“The gauntlets are sophisticated technology,” Redgrave said. “High-powered weapons require high-powered Mana. In your travels through Pandora, you may come across more concentrated Mana from greater adversaries. When you find it, bring it to me and I’ll use my equipment to improve it. I’m no weapons engineer but I designed the gauntlets myself.”
“Sounds like a plan. Now what?”
“Now you get some rest,” Jade said. “No point in jumping into it when you’re just getting started.”
“Punching out a couple of goblins didn’t do anything for me. I get more worn-out punching a heavy bag.”
“You’ll need all the strength you can get. I know this is important to you. You wouldn’t be on-board with it otherwise. But you’ve still got a life to live, Enzo. Neither of us wants to take that away from you.”
Jade had an intense stare. Most guys were probably intimidated just from standing around her. It was easy to believe she was an Omega, probably as bloodthirsty as any of them fighting against the Shadows. But the longer I looked into her eyes, the more I saw just a woman who was sincerely trying to do the right thing.
“The same goes for you,” Redgrave said to Jade. “You’ve done more than enough convincing Enzo to take this opportunity. Get some rest.”
“All right. Are you leaving with me, Enzo?”
“There’s something else I’d like to speak to him about. If you don’t mind.”
Jade turned to me. “You have my number if you need anything.” She winked then turned around. I watched the storage warehouse door close then looked at Redgrave.
“What’s up?”
He swiped the display tablet in front of me. I saw the LOD logo, which was an Omega symbol. A number panel asking for a passcode appeared in front of it. Redgrave tapped the numbers in and more information appeared on the screen.
“I have access to everything the Legion has,” he said. “That includes all of the projects they’re working on and those still in testing. There are a lot of checks and balances that must be done before something can be made official for all Omegas to use.”
“Makes sense. There are thousands of Omegas all over the world. Don’t wanna screw ‘em up.”
“Precisely. However, there was one project in particular that I think you can make use of.” He swiped the display until ‘The Synergy Project’ appeared upon it. “Hold your gauntlet up.”
I did as I was told and more information appeared on the screen.
SYNERGY with ENZO DRAKE
Jade Conrad - Level 1
“What’s this supposed to be?” I said.
“All Mana is connected. That includes the Mana inside of you. There is a hypothesis that an Omega can benefit from the Mana of others. But in order to gain those benefits, there must be a bond between them. In your case, you can improve yourself by bonding with Jade it appears.”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “Now by bonding, do you mean…”
The old man’s face wrinkled even more as he smiled. “Not necessarily in a literal sense. But your relationship itself. Your brain patterns are being monitored. There is a physical reaction to how your body reacts when you’re around those you appreciate.”
“I guess I’m in a better mood when I’m around people I like.”
“This is simply another concrete measure of your relationship.”
“Hmm… And I thought it couldn’t get any deeper than adding someone on Facebook. Too bad I don’t have any real friends…”
“The communicator in your gauntlets is reading your brain waves. It knows what you’re thinking without you even realizing it. This isn’t something you can fake. But… it’s only a bonus to further optimize your potential. The gauntlets and levels should be more than enough to get you to Anarchy.”
“Every little bit helps.” I walked over to a side table and slid the gauntlets off. The silvery steel gloves seemed to shimmer even though the lights of the warehouse were dirty.
“I got a question for you, Doc.”
“Of course.”
“All of this equipment. It’s all fancy, high-tech stuff you borrowed. You sure this is cool?”
He chuckled and nodded. “I took some liberties before departing from the Legion. I’m connected to the database, so I’ll be able to get readings on the Shadows you’ll be facing as well.”
“That’s exactly my question. The Legion… They’re the most powerful organization in the world. If the Apple Store can notice a few iPads are missing, the LOD is gonna notice something like a Junction Gate not being where it’s supposed to be.”
“And not only that. The devices are linked. In time, their trackers will be able to trace our unauthorized travel into Pandora.”
“Uh…” I scratched the side of my head, my face scrunched in confusion. “You’re not exactly putting me at ease.”
Dr. Redgrave put his hands behind his back and slowly shuffled toward me. The man was hunched over slightly, his knees shot from simple old age. But he always seemed to have a smile on his face. Even when he was about to give me the bad news he was gonna give me now.
“Oliver was a risk-taker,” he said. “He wouldn’t have signed-up to be the Slayer if that wasn’t the case. Saving your father will be a risk. The repercussions if they find us will undoubtedly be severe.”
“I’m not worried about what happens to me as long as I get to my dad.”
“Potential punishments don’t concern me either. However, if we were to be located before we got to your father…” He stared at me to get his point across. He didn’t have to stare for very long.
“…I’m guessing they won’t be willing to go to Anarchy in our place,” I said.
“The LOD won’t go on record to admit it but losing an Omega is the biggest mistake they’ve ever made. They don’t care to repeat it.”
Hearing more about the truth didn’t put me in a good mood. But the only man who was as determined as I was stood in front of me. That was enough to make me forget about whatever challenges were ahead.
I took a deep breath and put a hand on his shoulder. “Mistakes were made. I’m gonna fix ‘em.”
“I know you will. Until then, get some rest. Your first step on the road toward Anarchy is close. And the first step in a journey is always the most dif
ficult one to make.”
8: Viridian Vale
I woke up the next morning and managed to get myself back into the Bloody Guts gym for a day of training. Even though all I did was watch over everybody else while they pushed themselves, working the pads and staying warm drained me by the end of the day. I was always focused but now that I had something to do at night, my mind was wandering more than usual.
Nothing, not even the end of the day, was enough to distract me from starting the journey to Anarchy. I headed back to the storage warehouse later that night and stepped into Pandora with an eagerness I hadn’t felt in a long time.
The scenery wasn’t much different from before. The blades of grass were a few inches too long, greener than any I’d ever seen. There was forest in every direction all around me. The trees were as tall as any building and the other side couldn’t be seen from where I stood. A brisk breeze made all of the branches sway, filling my nose with the scent of the arbor.
I looked up at the clear sky and felt the sun rays against my cheeks. A drop of sweat dripped down my forehead. I still wasn’t used to how weird it was being in another world. Back home, it was late at night but here, it was morning. Like I traveled through time in the blink of an eye.
The energy of the Junction Gate began to flow and Jade appeared. She wore a tight pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt that hugged her body the same. On her wrist, there was a small wristband that had the same touchscreen display as my gauntlets. In one of her hands, she carried a shiny metal rod. It was about four-feet long, thin enough to squeeze her fingers all the way around it.
She walked over to me and dug it into the dirt.
“Didn’t think you needed a walking stick,” I said. “Or is that a Festivus Pole?”
“Very funny. I can see why you’re a trainer and not a comedian.”
“I do stand-up on the weekends. It’s only a matter of time until I make the switch.”
“Funny… No, this isn’t a walking stick. This is my fighting staff. When I was at my District, I was a Harbinger.” She twirled the stick around with surprising deftness. It tumbled around her wrists in the same motion she turned it before she gripped the metal.
