“I… don’t know if that’s our distraction or really bad timing,” Jed said, staring across the river at the golden haired angel holding up a blade of light, striding towards one of the nearby bystanders.
And reducing them to white ash.
“If it’s Mythlyn, she’s gone way off script,” Gwen said, voice wavering. Which is when Jed realized she was squeezing him a fair bit tighter than even when he pushed the warp-stallion to its limits.
The woman with the golden aura flashed forward, cutting another distant figure in half, ash falling while she laughed in a voice that should have been uplifting for all its beauty.
In the context, it felt entirely disturbing.
“My sister has disrupted our plans,” Mythlyn said, landing in a soft ruffle of feathers. “Though I believe she will serve as an adequate distraction.”
“You were up there with her? Did she see you?”
“I suspect none saw me,” Mythlyn said even as she vanished in a flash of warp-fire. “I did not use my wings until after my sister made her presence known. Hopefully any who saw me will assume it was my sister.”
“Look, marshals are biting,” Gwen said, pointing towards the complex.
Sure enough, several of the marshals had indeed moved to respond, rifles up and firing at the mad archangel.
A move they would soon regret.
Even as Jed gunned the throttle, taking the warp-stallion towards the compound, he could hear the screams.
“Well, guess they weren’t cowards, at least,” Gwen said, wincing against his back. “Messy way to go though.”
“Should we be helping?” Jed asked even as he lined up the warp-stallion with the gate.
“There is little we can do to stop my sister at this time. Should she come for you, I may be able to distract her, but little more. We are far too weak, and reasoning with her is unlikely to meet with success. Clearly the same madness that once gripped me and the Empress has overcome Aethlyn. She was always the kindest of my sisters.”
Jed didn’t have the time to process her words, nevermind respond, given that they were currently smashing through the wooden gate, sending splintering wood flying everywhere. The second he was through, the turret spun to life. Even as the remaining guards reeled back, Jed brought the warp-stallion into a controlled slide.
It wasn’t quite the same on the well landscaped yard as out in the fields of hex six-oh-six, but it worked as planned, letting the durable machine serve as a barrier and battering ram that sent people tumbling.
“That was even better than I was hoping,” Gwen yelled out even as she rolled to her feet and shot one of the guards. “That is definitely going in our book!”
Jed nodded, ducking down when he spotted three separate guards aiming his direction, pulling Gwen with him. Their shots pinged off the warp-stallion, making him wince, hoping they didn’t hit anything important. This plan could probably have used a few more minutes consideration.
Despite that, Jed grinned as he heard the turret return fire, high pitched whines and the cessation of incoming fire the only signs of its success from where he was crouched.
“Way too easy,” Gwen grumbled as they stood up, looking around at the defeated guards.
“Guess we didn’t need the distraction,” Jed said, moving over to inspect the dead guards. Each of them had neat little holes burned through them, either their heads or hearts. “Nasty.”
“Yep. Glad it’s on our side,” Gwen agreed. “Let’s find this control center.”
They moved inside, going to the back room where Adam had suspected the controls must be, since they were the only part of the compound he’d never been allowed inside.
Before they came across the control center, they found something else.
More accurately, several someones.
Waiting behind a thick mahogany desk was a man with a passing resemblance to Adam, though his hair had gone white.
“And so they have come to finish-”
“Sorry, wrong door,” Jed said, slamming it shut when he saw the kids sitting on the the couch at the side of the room. Killing their grandpa right in front of them didn’t seem like the wisest move.
“You’re sure the controls weren’t in there?” Gwen asked, glancing at the door.
“I’m sure that three kids were,” Jed replied, taking a deep breath as he held up the revolver. “Let’s check these other rooms first.”
“Shit. Yeah, okay,” Gwen said, gaze flicking to the door and back before gesturing down the hall with her gun.
“I can deal with him tonight, when he thinks he is safe.”
“Seriously doubt he’s going to feel safe anywhere after today,” Gwen said, chuckling as they moved to the next door, kicking it open and sweeping it clear.
“Doubt he’ll care. It’s the kids who are gonna be hit hard by this,” Jed said, trying not to wonder if any of those guards had been their parents.
And failing miserably.
Unfortunately, none of the other rooms had the controls. Or hidden hatches leading downward. Or even a nice hidden passage behind a bookshelf.
They didn’t even have bookshelves.
Jed’s interface revealed that the controls were nearby, but that he needed a direct connection to interact with them.
No easy override sequence this time.
They moved back to the door, flanking it, Mythlyn emerging beside them in a flash of purple-black warp-fire.
“Let him monologue. Lyn, any chance you could just… knock him out or something?”
“I can remove his heart from behind. It would be hidden,” Mythlyn offered.
“Empress, that’s worse than just shooting him in the head,” Gwen said, shuddering. “Archangel of Death appearing behind their gramps and he just dies? Nightmares for the rest of their lives, guaranteed.”
“Gonna take that as a no,” Jed said, shaking his head.
“Perhaps this would best be left to our new ally,” Mythlyn suggested, looking back towards the exit.
“Long as he survives.”
“What’s he doing anyway?” Jed asked, wondering if waiting was in their favor or the man in the room’s. Eventually he had to come out for basic needs, right? Could they get the kids out…
“He was staying out of the way where witnesses could attest to his innocence. Those who wouldn’t be questioned,” Mythlyn said, smiling.
“Hunter’s guild. Sent him to grab Somnus. Might’ve failed to inform him we’d be crashing the gate while he was gone,” Gwen said, chuckling as she raised her revolver, eying the front door.
“One of us should wait for him out front, eh? Bring him here,” Jed said, glancing in the direction of the turret.
“On it,” Gwen said, dashing down the hall.
“I meant me,” Jed said, lips quirking into an annoyed smile. “Which I probably should’ve just said.”
“It would have likely prevented her departure,” Mythlyn sent, nodding her agreement. “Are you certain you do not wish for me to remove his heart? I feel it would send a rather appropriate message.”
“Kids,” Jed said, shaking his head.
“Children are resilient. And we do not know what they have been exposed to. This may be catharsis for some of them, if what Adam told us was true,” Mythlyn said, fingers phasing in and out of the wall.
The sound of people moving up the hall cut off their conversation. Jed was glad to see Gwen and Adam, though he didn’t recognize the two behind them.
“Turns out Somnus has a crew now,” Gwen said, her voice carrying more than a little surprise as she thumbed over shoulder at the two men. They nodded when Jed glanced in their direction, but otherwise remained silent.
“Miss Gwen indicated there was a situation with children?” Adam asked, tipping his hat towards them as he arrived.
“Old man behind a desk, three kids on the couch on the right,” Jed said, gesturing towards the door with the revolver he still held ready.
“I can distract him while you fell him,” Adam said, straightening up.
“Was hoping you might be able to come up with a solution that didn’t involve killing him. That’d be easy.”
Adam’s gaze shifted between Jed and Mythlyn, eyes narrowing. Then he nodded. “Perhaps I can get close enough to tackle him?”
The lack of confidence had Jed closing his eyes. This would all be so much easier if he could warp himself through the wall instead of a coin.
“Mythlyn, get in position, just in case he’s waiting to shoot whoever steps in there. Adam’s more important than not scaring the kids,” Jed said after a minute. “Adam, I’m going to go in there with you, holding this empty revolver to your head. Understand?”
So saying, Jed holstered his regular gun and drew Mythlyn’s showing Adam the empty chamber. Not that it would remain harmless were Mythlyn to return to the weapon but Jed was trying to reassure the man.
“A hostage. Then I escape, make it to the patriarch, and render him hostage in turn,” Adam said, nodding.
“Sounds like a plan,” Jed said, pulling Adam into a hostage position.
Then they pushed open the door.
To Jed’s horror, the children weren’t on the couch anymore. Instead, two of them were on the floor, hands over their heads. The third, a girl who couldn’t have been over ten was standing next to the desk, surprisingly calm considering the gun the old patriarch had aimed at her head.
“You really shouldn’t make your plans outside the door of your target,” the man said, shaking his head. “You made it too easy. And Adam, to think that you- hurk.”
The man looked down to the stump where his hand had once been, the remains of the gun falling to the floor.
“I believe this is an acceptable compromise,” Mythlyn said, smiling as the patriarch stared at her. Her smile only grew wider as he let out a mangled scream.
Jed shrugged as Adam moved across the room. “Eh, it’ll do.”
…Isekai-eh…
With the patriarch neutralized, it was a simple matter for Jed to deactivate the collars. It was worrying to discover they’d been operating in low power mode and that the network had been re-designed to enslave humans specifically. It was the first real proof he had that the Architects had been… something else.
What, he didn’t know. But if a bunch of barely functioning slave collars had a hint, he was sure he’d find more.
That was something for later though.
With the patriarch dealt with, there was still another minor matter to deal with.
“She’s still out there,” Somnus said, tipping his hat in Jed’s direction when he approached the broken gate. Someone had stood up the warp-stallion and moved it to the side while he’d been working. They’d also thrown a sheet over the entrance.
He supposed it was about as effective as the wooden gate had been.
“At least she’s not wandering around killing people,” Gwen said from her position atop the wall. She was hunched down so only the top of her head peeked over the low wall topping it. “She just keeps yelling out for those who want mercy to come face her.”
“What’s she even doing here?” Jed asked, climbing up beside her. He accepted the binoculars, looking out at the mad golden haired archangel.
Gwen just shrugged. It was one of Somnus’ new teammates that answered. “Apparently the Imperial Guard are on their way. Some sort of signal nearby. They’re coming to set up a shrine or something? The Imp thinks this is probably related.”
“You don’t think?” Jed asked, looking at Gwen, then counter-ringward.
She grimaced, but didn’t say anything.
“You do think,” Jed said, rubbing his nose.
“The Imperial Guard will render our efforts here somewhat pointless.”
“Any way we can deflect them?” Jed asked, pulling his hat up, hand moving towards his chest.
“I’m gonna say no,” Gwen said, pointing upward. Overhead a black ship tore across the sky, dark blue warp-fire trailing in its wake, narrow profile easily visible.
Sure enough, it landed counter-ringward.
About two hours ride on warp-stallion, Jed figured. “Granite Hills.”
“Yep,” Gwen said, chewing her lip.
“This is all because…”
“Yep.”
“Think we should go help?”
“Nope.”
“I…”
“Not your fault when bad people do bad things,” Gwen said, pulling Jed’s head closer, pressing her forehead against it.
They stayed like that for several seconds.
“Doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop doing what I can to stop them,” Jed said, looking at the warp-stallion. “Are you with me, partner?”
“Yep. Let’s go fuck up some Imperials,” Gwen said, pushing to her feet and throwing a pair of fingers at the golden haired archangel who was still screaming her challenges.
Jed glanced over and was surprised to recognize the man approaching her.
The drunk he’d ‘blessed’ not an hour earlier.
Even more surprising, the woman stopped screaming, stepping towards the man. Despite their need to move, curiosity compelled Jed to lift the binoculars.
The man stopped in front of her, mumbling something. Her response was as clear as the rest of her declarations. “A blessed one. Truly, Mercy has been seen this day. Thank you, mother, for shining upon me.”
The madwoman spread her arms wide as she began glowing, floating off the ground. Then she extended a hand to the man. When he took it, the golden light extended out over him.
Together, they ascended into the sky. In less than five seconds, they were beyond even the range of his binoculars, speeding along rim, moving ringward.
“Well. Guess that problem solved itself,” Gwen said, clapping Jed on the back.
“Yeah. That’s definitely what happened,” Jed said, realizing he’d never had a chance to tell either of his partners about his little impromptu ceremony. One that had apparently done more than he’d thought.
A half-minute later, they were mounted up on the warp-stallion. There was a clicking sound that hadn’t been there before but a smack against the front panel knocked whatever was making it free. Since the machine was still working, Jed tried not to worry about what it had been.
The next two hours were a special kind of torture as they drew closer to Granite Hills. He wasn’t even sure what they’d be able to do. Maybe they’d arrive and have to turn back. Everyone kept telling him how the Imperial Guard were a lot stronger than the marshals. He didn’t know if anyone would be able to stand up to them.
Still, they had to try.