Crystal Keepers

by Brandon Mull

  “I’d rather live than die,” Abram said.

  Cole’s opinion of his bravery dropped several notches.

  “You’ll be my prisoner, of course,” Roxie said. “At least at first. Who knows what the future might hold?”

  “And I’m your prisoner too,” Constance said.

  “It may feel that way at first, as I take control of the kingdom,” Roxie said. “But before long, I’ll give you as much freedom as you’re willing to receive, so long as you remain in Zeropolis. Which brings me to the Hunter.”

  “Yes?” Hunter asked.

  “Have you wondered why I’m keeping you around?” Roxie asked.

  “The thought had crossed my mind,” Hunter said. “If you’re controlling Trench’s bot armor, you could probably take out our drones.”

  “My identity is no longer a mystery,” Roxie said. “Soon all will know of me. Help me advance the process. You have royal connections with both the High King and his queen. Serve as my messenger. Let them know that Zeropolis is now mine. If they leave me be, I will look to the boundaries of this kingdom and no farther. I am open to establishing trade relations and plan to be a pleasant neighbor. You now have some sense of who I am and what I can do. Please convey that to your superiors.”

  “You bet,” Hunter said.

  “You can’t keep Constance,” Cole said firmly. “It isn’t right.”

  Roxie’s voice became low and venomous. “Is it fun to talk tough when you feel far way? Don’t forget what I can do!”

  Suddenly Cole lost all vision and sound. The braces and harnesses connected to him began to roughly squeeze him and jerk him around. He tried to tense up and resist, but too many elements combined against him. It felt like he was in the grips of a tremendous seizure. Closing his eyes, he tried to ride it out.

  CHAPTER

  35

  STRANGE NEWS

  The shaking stopped as suddenly as it had started. Cole wasn’t sure how long it had lasted, but his head ached, and his entire body felt abused.

  “Don’t forget to deliver my message,” Roxie said in his ear, though he only saw darkness.

  Cole hung limply in his harness, trying to collect himself. “You okay, Hunter?” he finally asked.

  His brother pulled off Cole’s helmet. Hunter had already freed himself. He started unbuckling Cole.

  “Don’t talk in here,” Hunter said. “This whole system is compromised. She must have shaped some of the crystals inside the drones to her harmonic frequency, then used the connection to access this room.”

  “She was fast,” Cole said.

  “Blazing fast,” Hunter agreed. “There are lots of defenses in place to prevent an outsider from controlling this system. She must have beat them in microseconds.”

  Cole climbed out of the harness, and Hunter led him out of the room, closing the door behind them. Hunter’s hair was messy, and he looked shaken.

  “Is the rest of your place infected too?” Cole asked.

  “No,” Hunter said, walking over to a control panel on the wall. He hit some buttons. “Lots of separate systems, just in case. Good thing. I just killed power to the drone control room. For now, we’re Roxie free.”

  “We didn’t get Constance,” Cole pointed out.

  “No we did not,” Hunter agreed.

  “And we might have stepped on a hornet’s nest,” Cole said.

  “Was starting an apocalypse on your bucket list? If so, check it off.”

  “She mentioned having a body,” Cole said with dread. “What do you think it’s like?”

  “Big,” Hunter replied. “Well designed. Close to indestructible. She’s a supercomputer with shaping powers. I bet we’ll have to see it to believe it.”

  “Can we stop her?” Cole asked.

  Hunter inflated his cheeks and blew out slowly. “It’s kind of hard to imagine.”

  “I’ve helped stop some bad stuff,” Cole said. “But not alone. We should find my friends.”

  “Dad always says to finish what we start,” Hunter said. “Let’s get in the glider.”

  “Is it close by?” Cole asked.

  “Couldn’t be much closer,” Hunter said. He walked across the lab and opened a door. A black glider spanned the room beyond, facing the windows, wingtips inches from the walls.

  “No way,” Cole said, stopping in the doorway. “It looks sweet. How’d you get it in here?”

  “Piece by piece,” Hunter said. “It was assembled here along with much of my other equipment. It’s for emergencies. She’s never flown.”

  “You have other gliders?” Cole asked.

  “Two others,” Hunter said. “Hop in. I’ll grab some gear and join you.”

  Cole tried the door and found it unlocked. He climbed inside. The interior was narrower than their family car, but not terribly cramped. The padded seat was comfortable.

  Hunter tossed a large duffel bag into the backseat and climbed in as well. “I don’t know if Roxie figured out the location of this place when she hijacked my equipment, but just in case, we should get out of here. Seat belt.”

  Cole clipped himself into the restraints attached to his seat. Hunter hit a button, and Cole felt a low thrum pass through the glider. He realized they were now hovering. Hunter flipped a switch, and the windows in front of them folded out of the way.

  “Not much room for a takeoff,” Cole observed.

  “Magnetic launcher,” Hunter said. “Hang on to your lunch.”

  He grabbed the stick, hit a button, and the glider catapulted forward, the acceleration pinning Cole back into his seat. After the initial forward rush, Cole rocked forward against his restraints. The glider dipped, then swooped up, curving away from the skyscraper while gaining altitude.

  “Whoa!” Hunter said. “I am glad that worked.”

  Cole’s headache had doubled in severity. “Maybe not the best idea right after getting attacked by a drone controller.”

  Hunter glanced over. “Sorry about that. It was quick work on her part. As soon as she took over the drones, she used the control signal to hijack the rest of the system. Impressive and scary.”

  “There’s no way she’s in the glider, right?”

  “No way I can think of. Should we contact your friends?” Hunter pulled out a communicator.

  “You think it’ll work?” Cole asked.

  “Give it a try,” Hunter said. “Don’t mention me.”

  “What?”

  “We don’t have Constance. They might have believed I switched sides if we had brought her to them. Without her, there isn’t a chance.”

  “Couldn’t I explain?” Cole asked.

  “That I’m your brother? It’ll just give them more reasons to doubt you. Either you’re not thinking straight because I’m your brother, or else I tricked you into thinking we’re relatives.”

  “Do they know what you look like?”

  “You’re missing the point. I’m just your ride. I won’t be joining you. Not for now, at least. Until I can prove myself.”

  “You’re bringing me back to them,” Cole said. “That’s something. And we have important information.”

  “It isn’t enough,” Hunter said. “I have a very bad reputation with the Unseen. They’ll think I’m trying to infiltrate them.”

  “Prove yourself by helping them stop Roxie,” Cole said.

  “I’ll help from a distance,” Hunter said. “Tell them about Roxie and Constance. After I’m gone, tell them about me, too, if you want. I’ll leave you with a communicator so you can keep in touch.”

  “Should I call them now?” Cole asked.

  “I’m pointing us toward Old Zeropolis. Send out a call saying who you are and asking for Googol or Nova. Don’t mention Constance in case the wrong people are listening.”

  Cole looked out the window. The
lights of Zeropolis shone like jewels in all directions. He held down the button on the communicator. “This is Cole. I’m back in town and looking for Googol or Nova. Does anybody hear me?”

  For a moment nobody responded. Cole was getting ready to try again when an answer came.

  “Cole? This is Forge. How are you on these harmonics?”

  “I salvaged the crystal from my old communicator,” Cole said. “I had help.”

  “That’s a little scary,” Forge said. “We thought we fried it.”

  “I need to know where to meet up,” Cole said.

  “No offense, Cole, but you didn’t show when we expected you. Where have you been?”

  “I got captured,” Cole said. “I just got free.”

  “Hold on,” Forge said.

  Cole waited.

  “They don’t believe you,” Hunter said. “They think we captured you and we’re using you as bait for a trap.”

  “I guess it seems that way,” Cole said.

  Googol’s voice came on. “Cole, are you all right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Answer this question falsely if you’re being forced to make this call. What is the name of the bot who escorted you in the tunnels?”

  “Sidekick.”

  “Do you have the information you were seeking?”

  “Yes, but things have gone really wrong. I’ll have to tell you in person. It’s too sensitive to risk somebody listening in. Where can I find you?”

  “We’re in Old Zeropolis. Tell us where you are and we’ll get somebody to you.”

  Cole sighed. “I’m in a glider.”

  “What?” Googol said.

  “Just tell me where I should land it,” Cole said. “I’m heading your way now. I promise this isn’t a trick.”

  “Tell you what,” Googol said. “Can you find the old Central Square?”

  Cole glanced at Hunter. He gave a nod.

  “Sure,” Cole said.

  “Meet us there.”

  Hunter set the glider down on top of a building two blocks from Central Square. He had used a map from the ship’s detailed guidance system to choose a landing site.

  “Go straight to the square,” Hunter said. “Your communicator only connects to mine. I can use it to track you. I’ll stay in the air not far from you. Give me a call if you need me, including if there’s any trouble meeting up with your friends.”

  “Got it,” Cole said. He opened the door and hopped down. It was strange to see the aircraft hovering a couple of feet above the rooftop.

  Cole looked at his brother. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  “Me neither. But don’t forget the giant killer robot we have to stop.”

  “Right. See you soon.”

  Cole closed the door and ran across the roof to a door. It was locked. Hunter had given him a flashlight, a stun gun, and a workbot. The workbot was specifically designed for unlocking doors. Cole took the little bot from his pocket, switched it on, and set it on the door handle.

  “Unlock the door,” Cole said. Hunter had told him to keep the instructions simple.

  The little bot scurried on spiderlike legs. Within a moment Cole heard the lock disengage. He opened the door, turned on the flashlight, and went down the hall.

  He met nobody on his way to the ground floor and walked out to the street without any trouble. Switching off his flashlight left the street dark, but he could still see well enough thanks to the starlight and a rising moon. Looking up at the sky, Cole saw no sign of the glider. He supposed that was a good thing.

  Nobody shared the street with him as he moved toward the square. He had no idea whether it was because of the late hour, or if this was simply a deserted part of town. When he reached the street he needed to cross to reach the square, Cole paused and looked ahead. All appeared quiet and still. He made sure his stun gun was ready.

  As Cole trotted across the street, something landed beside him and a hand clamped down on his shoulder. “Hey, Cole,” Roulette said. She wore a battle suit.

  Somebody else landed on his other side. Cole turned to see Jace.

  “Hey!” Cole exclaimed. “You’re all right!”

  Jace hugged him, giving his back a few manly slaps. “I was thinking the same thing.”

  “So no trap?” Roulette asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Cole replied.

  “You have news?” Jace asked.

  “Huge news,” Cole said. “A lot of it bad.”

  “Let’s get to Googol,” Roulette said. “It’ll be faster if I carry you.”

  “Like piggy back?” Cole asked.

  Roulette scooped him off his feet, cradling him in her arms.

  “Are you sure?” Cole asked.

  “With the suit it’s like holding a baby,” Roulette said. She glanced at Jace. “Come on.”

  They ran for several blocks before turning down an alley. Then they hurried down a staircase to a metal door. Roulette set down Cole and gave a knock. A guard opened the door.

  Roulette led Cole and Jace down some halls and through some doors until they reached a room where Googol, Nova, Joe, Mira, Dalton, Blake, and Forge awaited them. Everyone cheered as Cole entered.

  “Joe!” Cole called out. “You’re okay!”

  They embraced. “Good to see you, too.”

  Cole went on to hug Dalton, Blake, and Mira as well. “Where’s Trickster?” Cole asked.

  “On assignment in the city,” Googol said.

  “Can I stay?” Roulette asked.

  Googol gave her a nod.

  “I better tell you the news,” Cole said. “I found Constance.”

  “Her exact location?” Googol asked.

  “I found her,” Cole said. “We talked.”

  “You saw Costa?” Mira cried. “Is she all right?”

  “I think so,” Cole said. “The problem is I also found her shaping power. It combined with a supercomputer that Abram Trench built and it’s about to run wild.”

  “Trench was involved?” Nova asked.

  “He’s had Constance in some secret hideout all along,” Cole said. “Harmony told me where to find her.”

  “How’s my mom?” Mira asked, wringing her fingers.

  “She’s doing okay,” Cole said. “She helped me a lot. But on my way back here, the Hunter caught me.”

  “The Hunter?” Dalton exclaimed.

  “It’s a long story,” Cole said. “Turns out the Hunter is my brother.”

  “He’s lost his mind,” Jace said matter-of-factly.

  “He really is,” Cole said. “His name is Hunter. I couldn’t remember him because he was brought here before me. He quit the Enforcers and tried to help me find Constance. When the supercomputer stopped us, he brought me here.”

  “I think we’re going to need the whole story,” Googol said.

  “There’s too much,” Cole said. “There isn’t time. This computer is like another Aero. Except she can shape. And she built a huge robotic body. At least we think it’s huge. She said it was. She has Constance and she’s going to take over Zeropolis. How can we stop something like that?”

  Everyone stared at him in silence for a moment.

  “He’s serious,” Dalton said.

  After a quick knock, a young man poked his head into the room. “Nova, Googol, I’m sorry to disturb you, but we’re getting some insane video feeds. City Patrol HQ is under attack. You’re not going to believe by what.”

  Googol groaned. “A giant bot?”

  The young man furrowed his brow. “How’d you know?”

  Vision gear swiveling, Googol looked around the room. “Let’s all have a look.”

  CHAPTER

  36

  DRAGON

  Arms folded, mouth open, Cole stared as they replayed the
video feed. On the screen, an enormous robotic dragon tore into a blocky building, raking away the walls to reveal the mangled floors inside. Patrolmen the size of insects attacked the metallic monstrosity from the building and from the ground, doing no noticeable damage. The feed cut off after about fifteen seconds.

  “We keep CPHQ under constant visual surveillance,” Nova explained. “This was not a sight we ever expected to behold.”

  “It has my sister?” Mira asked quietly.

  “I don’t know where Roxie put her,” Cole said.

  “The dragon is named Roxie?” Dalton interrupted.

  “I guess,” Cole said. “That’s the computer’s name.”

  “We’re getting the same transmission over multiple comms systems,” said the young man who had fetched them. “Mostly CP systems that we’re monitoring.”

  “Let’s hear it,” Nova said.

  Roxie’s voice came on over the speakers. “—indoors during this period of transition. That’s all for now. Citizens of Zeropolis, I’m Roxie, your new ruler. I order all authorities to surrender and stand down. If you do so, I will spare you. Do not fear me. Let’s be friends. Together we will build a utopia for human and machine alike. Please stay indoors during this period of transition. That’s all for now. Citizens of Zeropolis—”

  The young man shut off the speakers.

  “It really is named Roxie,” Jace said.

  “Maybe it’s an acronym,” Forge said.

  “Constance had a poodle named Roxie,” Mira said.

  “Forge,” Googol said. “Look into what systems she has compromised. Use every contact available. Let’s assume squabbles between the resistance and the government are on hold for now. We’re all allies in this.”

  “It sounded like she wasn’t in all systems yet,” Cole said. “She told Abram she had hoped to wait longer before revealing herself so she could control more of Zeropolis when she made her move.”