by Riker Kane
“I’ve got enough money to splurge…” I sighed
“What’s wrong?” Nina narrowed her eyes at me.
I looked around at the cadets mingling around us to make sure they weren’t listening before leaning forward across the table.
“Dr. Bonet. He was acting strange.”
“Things have been strange for a bit now,” Quentin said. “A bunch of question marks pop up and now he’s shutting the Junctions down because of the bird we found.”
“It’s not just that though… The last Junction we finished. I heard something. I saw something.”
“What was it?” Nina asked.
“Someone standing at the end of the road. Some… thing. Or maybe it really was a person.”
Quentin shook his head. “A person? There are no people in Pandora. That’s why they call ‘em Shadows.” He took another sip of his milkshake with a skeptical look in his eyes.
“I know it doesn’t make sense. I thought it was just my imagination. I mean, we made it back to the gate without any trouble. But when I mentioned it to Dr. Bonet, he didn’t think I was crazy. He said it was… He said it was a Herald.”
“A Herald? What the hell is a Herald?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t see why he would pretend it was a big deal.”
Nina slowly put her cup down on the table. She was usually focused but now she was staring at me like I was the only thing in the world.
“Are you sure he said it was a Herald?” she asked.
I nodded without hesitating.
She twisted her lips as she leaned forward in her seat. “When the First Event happened, there were two different things that were reported. Vicious beasts. Wolves. Lions. Tigers. Elephants. Hawks.”
“I’ve seen the videos,” Quentin said. “Bursts of light appearing in the sky and animals jumping out and causing destruction. Just like in the Junctions.”
“That’s right. But there was something else. Men. But you could tell they weren’t human just from their outfits. Dark robes. But a good look at their face made it more obvious. No pupils. White skin. They never said anything. They were just as destructive as the beasts they came with.”
“Shadows take different forms,” I said. “We just saw a fire-breathing crow, so anything’s possible.”
Nina nodded. “Scientists have been trying to figure out what they’re trying to do. The LOD was founded so we could go to their dimension and beat them to the punch. But there were reports of another Shadow. A talking Shadow.”
“A talking Shadow?” Quentin raised an eyebrow, his lips tight around his straw as he listened intently.
“The people studying Pandora are trying to figure out two things. Why are the Shadows coming here? And how can we stop them for good? The answer to the second question so far has been going through Junctions and shutting them down before the threat level gets too high.”
“It seems to be working,” I said. “There hasn’t been an attack since the First Event. No threat has even gotten close. The first question though…”
“There are rumors. Classified information. The details are sketchy because it’s been pieced together by a bunch of different people. But most of that information came from the talking Shadow. The one they called a Herald.”
Quentin put his milkshake down and held his hands out. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”
Nina sighed softly and shook her head. “I don’t know what the Shadow said. The only thing I know for sure is it resulted in a fight. The Omegas who fought it beat it. And that was that. I don’t think there’s been any record of it ever since.”
“Hold on a second… If this is supposed to be classified information, how do you know about it?”
I looked at Nina to get her approval. She nodded softly. “Nina has ties to the LOD through her dad’s side.”
“Oh… I guess that explains why you seem to know what’s gonna happen before it does. What does it matter though? So Liam might’ve seen a talking Shadow… a Herald. What good will that do?”
“Maybe we can find it again,” I said. “Maybe we can go back through a Junction and get some answers.”
“The Junction Room is shut down. How are we gonna do that?”
“The room is closed but the Junctions are still active,” Nina said. “If we can get to the room, we can go through a Junction. Maybe we can actually find the Herald and…”
A smirk slowly curled onto the corner of Nina’s lips. I smiled just the same as her.
Quentin threw his hands up in the air. “Hold on a second! You guys aren’t serious. Tell me you’re not serious…” He sighed as the realization quickly dawned on him. “You’re serious… You’re both serious. There’s no chance we can even find this ‘Herald’ again, and that’s assuming we even make it to the gate.”
“The Great Defenders.”
“Don’t ‘The Great Defenders’ me. It was my idea to name us.”
“We can’t do this without you,” Nina said.
Quentin leaned back in his seat and sucked on his milkshake as loud as he could. His pouty face just made me laugh.
“Fine,” he said. “I’m in. You still have to figure out a way to get to the gates.”
I thought about it for a moment then nodded. “…We’ll walk right through.”
33: Showdown
Most of the cadets never stuck around the Nerve Center too late because there were more interesting things to do in the other blocks on campus. The sound of our boots clicking against the polished granite echoed through the empty halls as we made our way across the third floor.
“It’s kinda spooky,” Quentin said. “Heading to a Junction while all the other cadets are gone… Feels like we’re solving some kinda mystery like Scooby and the gang. Hopefully we get this thing done quick.”
“Why?” I said. “You got something better to do.”
“I’m a growing boy, Liam. I need my beauty sleep.”
“How about a bubble bath and a manicure right after this?”
“That sounds nice. Maybe we can put it in the suggestion box and they’ll build a spa in the Central Square.”
I managed to laugh despite the butterflies fluttering inside my stomach.
After making the decision, we geared up and headed to the Junction Room. The glass doors slid open and all of the Junctions appeared to be active. One of the personnel directors spotted me immediately. The man in the white lab coat walked over with his hands up.
“Junctions are closed, cadet.”
“It’s all right,” I said. “There’s something I need to check.”
“Something you need to check?”
He was younger than most of the other Junction Room officials. Judging from the lack of wrinkles on his face, he couldn’t have been older than thirty. His head was shaved even though it was clear he was nowhere close to being bald. I knew he wasn’t that old mostly because he hadn’t gotten angry with me yet. But I knew his patience would only last for so long.
“We heard the Junctions are closing,” I said. “We really need to go through one last time.”
“Oh, yeah?” He crossed his arms. “Why’s that?”
“Because…” I looked at Quentin and he shrugged. Nina didn’t offer me any help either. “Because I’m here on business for Dr. Bonet…”
“And what kinda business is that?”
“It’s about the Junctions. The information he gave you. The… you know…”
“No, I don’t know.”
I leaned in closer and whispered to him. “The thing he was informed of. The thing that was… found.”
I didn’t have much else. I just had to bluff and take my chances, hoping he’d heard about the potential of a Herald by now.
The scientist took a step back and looked me up and down. “Dr. Bonet is sending you? You’re only a 1-Star Bronze.”
“I’m the one who found it. I should be the one to look for it again.” I leaned in closer to him and whispered. “Let me handle this. I’ll f
ind out what it’s up to. And if I find it, you’ll be the first one to hear about it…” I glanced at the name badge on his front pocket. “Dr. Kelsing.”
He scratched the stubble on his chin, a look of indecisiveness in his eyes. “It would be nice to be the one to break the news,” he said. “And readings are sporadic… I’m as eager as anybody to find out what exactly you found… Fine.” He sighed and held his communicator up to mine. My display lit up with a new mission.
CURRENT MISSIONS
Defeat 100 Shadows in Pandora
Reward: $400
Find the Talking Shadow and Report to Dr. Kelsing
Reward: $200
“Just 200 bucks, huh?” I said.
“You’re lucky you’re getting anything,” he replied. “I’ll let you go through one Junction. One.”
“One.” I held up an index finger.
My squad was just about to walk up to the second floor when the glass doors slid open behind me. I turned around to see Brooke sashaying in like only she could. She was decked out in her Cavalier armor and flanked by two squadmates, a Gunrunner and a Zealot.
The brunette kept her eyes on me as she walked up to Dr. Kelsing.
“What is this?” the doctor said. “What’s going on?”
“I’m here to help Omega Aldridge here,” she said.
“What? Since when?”
“Yeah, since when?” Quentin repeated him.
“Since he needs my help,” Brooke said. “Go on, Liam. Tell him why I’m here.”
She gave me a wink, a subtle smirk forming on her lips. I thought about it for a moment and sighed. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to let another squad work.”
“What?” Quentin said. “Are you serious?”
“We’re not the only Omegas on campus. We all have to work together.”
I looked at Nina but she was too indifferent to bother saying anything.
Dr. Kelsing rolled his eyes and held his communicator up to Brooke’s. “Fine,” he said. “That’s it. No more squads. Get the information and report back to me right after.”
The doctor grumbled to himself as he walked to the other side of the Junction Room to get his work done.
Brooke looked down at her communicator display.
“How did you know something was up?” I asked.
“I saw you outside the coffee shop. Saw you three heading back to the Nerve Center. It’s always strange when a squad heads back at night, especially when the Junction Room is supposed to be closed.”
“Are you following us?”
“And what if I was?” She didn’t bother trying to hide her smile at this point. “Apparently, this is a big deal. This have something to do with them having trouble figuring out what’s going on with this world?”
“The Mana levels are higher than they anticipated. The scrambled readings might have something to do with a specific Shadow I found on my last run.”
“I see…” She tapped the side of her chin as she looked up. “All right, Liam. This sounds important if Dr. Kelsing is willing to put a price on it. I guess I owe you.”
“Just make sure you report back to him after you clear your Junction. I can’t shake the feeling we need to figure this out as fast as we can. And be careful.”
~ ~ ~
“Brooke… She’s, uh, something…” Quentin said.
“She’s something, all right,” I replied.
“I’ve seen the type before. Girls like her have guys gawking at ‘em all the time. But they’re not ashamed of it. They relish it. Gotta respect a girl who’s willing to put herself out there. No shame at all. I like it.”
“Guys,” Nina said. “Focus.”
“I’m focused. Knowing we’re not the only squad out here looking for this Herald makes things a little easier.”
“It’s just a hunch,” I said. “We won’t know what we’re dealing with until we’re actually dealing with it.”
We stepped through the same gate we cleared earlier in the day. Our surroundings had changed to a more urban city. At least, that’s what it looked like underneath all of the charred rubble. Buildings and cars alike were all blackened like an inferno just past through. The smell of soot filled my nostrils like burned barbecue. Flakes of ash blew by from the warm nighttime breeze.
I rested my saber over my shoulder as I marched forward.
“This Shadow we’re looking for,” Quentin said. “What’s it look like?”
“I didn’t get a good look at it. All I saw was an outline. Could just be entirely black.”
“I get it… A literal shadow. Better keep an eye on the alleys. Something might pop out when we least expect it—”
A flash of white energy in front of us made me shut my eyes. The blinding light lasted for only a second before something popped out of it.
A black tiger suddenly appeared, its stripes white and gray. I wouldn’t have thought it was strange if it wasn’t three times the size of a normal one. It opened its mouth and its growl echoed through the streets.
“Black tiger,” Quentin said. “I got this.”
He lowered his shield down and ran forward. The black tiger didn’t hesitate in charging to meet him.
“He’s reckless,” Nina said.
“Get his back, Rose.”
Nina sped forward fast enough to catch up to Quentin. Just as the tiger leaped into the air, Quentin raised his shield up. He parried the tiger’s swipes but its momentum kept moving it forward. The two of them slammed together and brought one another to an abrupt halt. Nina quickly followed up and stabbed the beast in its neck with both katanas.
The tiger roared as black blood spurted from its neck. It swiped violently, catching Nina in the chest and knocking her back.
I caught up to them and slashed at the unsuspecting tiger in its side. My added strength made it easier to rend its flesh and fur, causing more of the black blood to leak out of it.
Another flash of white light behind us and another giant tiger leaped out.
“Another one,” Quentin said.
“Watch our back while Rose and I finish this one off.”
“Got it.” Quentin dashed forward to the new tiger.
I raised my saber up and got the other one’s attention. We circled around one another in the middle of the street. I kept my saber sideways, ready to parry. But the tiger’s surprising speed caught me off guard. It leaped faster than it roared, pouncing on me before I could put my blade up. Two hard swipes dug its claws into my side.
“Dammit…” I gritted my teeth as I pushed my blade up into its neck. It roared as more blood leaked from it but even with my saber digging in, it still didn’t relent.
“Rose!”
I yelled and she arrived right on time. The Strider’s katanas found their way back into its side, giving me the chance to raise my legs up and kick it away from me. The tiger tumbled onto its back. Nina and I ran to finish it. She pinned it down with her katanas before it could move. I thrust my saber into the side of its head, digging deep into its skull. One last roar was cut off as it exploded into Mana.
Quentin was busy fending off the other tiger. “All right, guys,” he said. “Any time now.”
Nina sped forward with both blades and dug them into the beasts back. I followed up just behind her, poking my saber through its head. The resistance of flesh and bone wasn’t enough to stop the increased damage from my weapon. It struggled for only a moment before meeting the same fate as the previous beast.
Quentin shook his head as he collected his Mana. “Giant tigers. Fire-breathing crows. What’s next? A flying whale?”
“Don’t jinx it now.” I gave him a smirk before we kept moving down the road.
We turned the corner and the next street was just as burned down as the previous one. The scene was miserable as it could get. We kept moving forward until I saw a faint purple light coming from around the corner.
“There it is,” I said.
“Even if there are no talking Shadows around her
e, it’s nice to clear a Junction and collect some Mana without much trouble,” Quentin said.
“What part of ‘don’t jinx it’ didn’t you understand?”
We moved around the corner and the Obelisk stood plainly in the middle of the road. The purple energy resonated in the darkness all around us.
“Strange place for an Obelisk. Whatever.” Quentin raised his shield up and shattered the Obelisk. Chunks of it spilled on the floor and the energy faded like smoke into the air.
We looked at one another.
I waited.
And waited.
And waited a little longer.
But there was nothing. No ground shaking underneath me. No thunder or lightning in the sky. I couldn’t see anything moving. Even the smell hadn’t changed.
Despite all that, the butterflies continued to flutter around in my stomach.
“Nothing here,” Quentin said. “No guardian.”
“Strange… What was the threat level on this Junction?”
“Same as the last time,” Nina said. “High. Same level, too.”
“They’re having trouble getting readings,” Quentin said. “Maybe they labeled this Junction wrong.”
I shook my head. “…I don’t got a better idea… C’mon. Let’s get back and see if we can convince Kelsing to go through another Junction. Maybe there’s something we can find.”
We turned around to head back down the road where the gate was. The gate was in sight but we’d still found nothing.
“That’s weird,” Quentin said. “I think this is the easiest Junction we’ve had in a long time.”
“I guess it was just bad readings all along,” Nina said.
We stood next to the gate heading back into the Junction Room. I was about to walk through when I stopped and turned around.
“You all right?” Quentin said.
I looked down the road. I couldn’t see anything but I kept staring. My eyes squinted to get a better view. I didn’t know what it was but I couldn’t shake it. A feeling in my stomach, spreading through my blood like fire.
I walked away from the gate down the street and stood there. Quentin walked up next to me. “Yo, Soul. You copy? You’re kinda freaking me out here…”
