Crusade across worlds, p.12
Crusade Across Worlds, page 12
I turn to find a Musko gripping her neck with one hand, the other lifted high with a black blade. Placing my Enidd on his stomach, I pull the trigger and he falls back. I barely have time to reassure Mae before another Musko flies at me, knocking the gun from my grip. He backhands me and for a moment, I’m dizzy, pain splintering through my helmet and ringing into my head. I try to regain focus when another blow slams into my stomach and I fall to my knees.
“Human bitches,” the miyon sneers and lifts his blade again.
Before he brings it down, I reach for my gun, aim it between his legs and pull the trigger. His scream echoes throughout the domed space and he falls back, hands on his groin, cursing and yelping. Pulling myself to my feet, I block Pratt and Mae who crouch against the wall.
Five Muskos stand before me.
“Fallon!” Walker calls and jams his fist across a miyon’s jaw. He tries rushing over but another two block his path and he’s deterred. With a quick scan, I find all the Rogues are busy in their own duels, fighting the Muskos alongside the guards that are sweeping in from the Great Hall.
Time to focus again.
Taking a breath, I concentrate and block everything out, slowing down time. One Musko inches forward, lifting his Traxpire. I scissor-kick it out of his hand and then thrust my elbow across his jaw. Confused and disoriented, he falls to the ground as two others miyons approach, both leveling guns at my head. Their fingers inch toward the trigger but I drop to the ground, shooting the last two miyons in their knees. Distracted by their fallen comrades, I blast the remaining Muskos in their chests and all five go crashing to the ground.
Standing, I speed up time and turn to the girls. “Are you two o—?”
Something grips my neck and the next thing I see is a sleek black blade hanging over me. I don’t have the air to scream because a forearm is squeezing back, trying to snap my head off. But just as the blade comes down, the pressure on my neck abates and the Musko falls to the ground behind me.
I gasp for air with a cough, my hands at my throat.
Breathe.
Sucking in a deep breath, I’m finally able to fill my lungs again. Once the dizziness subsides, I realize Walker is standing over the Musko, his arm outstretched and his Traxpire aimed. Glowering, the tribesman finally looks at me. He glances quickly at Pratt and Mae before his focus sweeps back.
“You okay?”
I nod, sucking in another breath.
“Come on,” he takes me by the hand, “we need to get out of here. Girls!” he shouts and Pratt and Mae jump to their feet.
The Millix have reappeared, but only five heads are visible. Walker is racing over, toward the center pool but I don’t see Lalu.
Lalu?
I am here, Fallon.
We’re at the Docking Station—we need you.
I will come up.
“What about the others?” I pull Walker to a stop, glancing around. “We can’t leave without—”
Another explosion ripples overhead but Tucker shoots back, sending the Musko flying. He gestures toward the pool. “We’ve got to go!”
Jace, Booker and Werzo rush over, the three already jumping onto their Millix.
“What about Able and Reid!” Mae cries.
“They’ll have to meet up with us,” Walker lifts Pratt and places her on the Millix behind Jace. He picks up Mae and helps situate her behind Tucker. “Go!”
The three Millix dunk below the surface just as Lalu’s head pops up.
“We can’t leave without Reid,” I turn from Walker, scanning the space. Fighting still dominates most of the Docking Station, but more guards have arrived, balancing the ratio.
“Rox will be fine,” he’s pulling me toward Lalu. “Come on, we have to go!”
“But—”
Walker climbs onto Lalu and tugs me down in front of him. I grip her Bairs and he wraps his arms around my waist, shifting us forward. After one final scan and with no sign of Reid or Able, I acquiesce.
Lalu, can you bring us to the shore’s surface?
Yes, Fallon.
She submerges and we’re zipping through the water only to be stopped by blazing white flares. I don’t believe it. The entire kingdom is under attack. Millix and Stancimises race past one another, their riders firing bright flashes through the water, illuminating the golden city even more. I’ve never seen it so filled with movement, with chaos. Guards fire at Muskos who zip around coral structures, only to blast pieces of the city apart as civilians flee the metropolis waters. Clarence was right—the rest of the queen’s guards are out here, trying to stop the Muskos from getting inside the FH, from getting to the queen and princesses. But there are too many. Perio must’ve been recruiting like-minded Mybyncians these past three months. And now he’s brought them here to fight. For him. For a non-Arizal Mybyncia.
“Fallon, watch out!” Walker veers us to the right. We narrowly miss an Enidd’s zap and then jerk left to avoid another one. Everything is zooming past and Lalu is doing her best trying to navigate us through the chaos.
“Holy mother…” Jace’s voice echoes in our helmets. “This is insane!”
“We have to get to the surface,” Tucker commands, firing his Enidd at an encroaching Millix. It’s ridden by a sage-colored body with brownish bottoms instead of the guard’s purple tunic-like attire. The Rogue Leader fires again and this time he hits his target.
Palli is requesting I stay, Fallon.
The name sounds familiar and it takes a minute to remember why. Palli is the name of the Millix Reid rode when we were here last time.
Is Palli carrying anyone?
Not at this time, no, Lalu dodges another white flare and moves us north by a few meters. But she is about to gain two passengers.
“Fallon,” Walker says behind me, “we need to go now. It’s too crazy out here!”
“Reid’s on his way. We need to wait—”
Something knocks into Lalu and I lose my grip on her Bairs. I fly off, tumbling through the war-infested waters, my head rattling with dizziness. I’m spinning, trying to grab onto something—anything—but there’s nothing out here. Nothing but open water contaminated with zipping white flares and Millix-ridden enemies. I’m struggling to find equilibrium and get a handle on the scene, but I’m tumbling too fast, soaring back into the city.
“Fallon!” Pratt screams from somewhere. “Hold on!”
I keep grabbing for something, but nothing is here. Any minute and I’ll be zapped by one of those white flares. I know it. I need to get back on Lalu. We need to get to the surface.
“Fallon!” Reid calls. “Give me your hand!”
I think he’s behind me, but I can’t tell. I’m still tumbling through the water, trying to correct my vision and—
I’m yanked up, dragged onto a Millix. Dizzy from the sudden jolt, my head is cloudy with the new angle as I find Able behind me and Reid in the front, grasping Palli by her Bairs. She takes off, dodging the fiery blasts and navigating us north. She’s not moving as fast as Lalu and I know it’s because she’s carrying three people.
“It’s too much weight!” I grip Reid’s waist as Able wraps his arms around me.
“It’s fine,” he calls back. “We just need to get out of here.”
“But she won’t make it—”
Fallon, I am here, Lalu pulls up beside us with Walker. Palli is struggling. I can carry two.
“It’s too much weight for one Millix,” I say to Reid. “One of us needs to get on Lalu.”
“Able,” Reid calls. “Ride with Walker. We’ll see you up on the surface.”
“On it, Boss,” Able jumps from Palli and secures himself behind Walker.
We’ll see you up there, Lalu, I say, and she takes off carrying the boys.
“I want everyone on the shore in thirty seconds,” Reid commands as Palli starts swimming higher, dodging the white flares. We’re soaring faster, sprinting out of the danger zone when a horde of Millix catch sight of us and race after, still firing their blazing shots. Palli dodges, jerking back and forth.
Gripping Reid tighter, we race through the water until Palli suddenly stops and whips around. Reid fires on the impending Millix, hitting two in the snout. But they keep advancing. Tucker and Booker spin and shoot at the Muskos, derailing them only slightly. Jace starts firing but Reid points upward.
“Get Pratt to the surface. Tucker, you too! Get Mae up there!”
The boys do as requested and jet up. At least we’re pulling a portion of Muskos from attacking the castle. But if reinforcements don’t arrive on the surface, we’ll be in deep shit too. We can’t take them all on. It’s only the ten of us and a wave of Mybyncians on our tail. Palli jets around and we continue soaring higher, jerking back and forth, dodging the white flares that fire past.
We break the surface and a moment of relief pours over me. At least we’re not in danger of drowning or crumpling under the weight of the ocean. But a new fear sets in: the others are running across the sand, rushing behind Tucker. He’s carrying Mae inland, a trail of red drops falling behind them.
Palli has barely brushed ashore and I jump off. I race over and stop as Tucker lays Mae in the sand behind one of the stone walls. She breathes slowly, her pained face pale and her body stiff. She’s grimacing, staring down at the red sand beneath her knee.
“What happened?” Able drops to the ground, his eyes focused on the huge gash in her leg.
“Musko shot her,” Tucker pants. “Just now.”
“Fuck!” Able hisses. He twists around, looking for something. “We need to-to find a-a tourniquet.”
“And we got company,” Jace spins, reaching for his Enidd. He shoots the two Muskos who have jumped off their Millix. One falls but the other advances and Reid turns, firing on him.
“Hold on,” Able shifts, trying to locate something to stop the bleeding. But there’s nothing. The nearby fauna isn’t long enough to create a tourniquet. We need something made of fabric, something with length.
“I got it.” I remove my helmet and toss it to the side before peeling off my suit.
“Fallon!” Reid glances back with a yell. “What are you doing?!”
“Just keep them distracted!” I step out of the black material as five more Muskos appear on the shore. Once I’m out of the protective gear, I take the long lavender skirt in my hands and pull. The fabric rips across the middle of my thighs and I tear it all the way around, stripping one long length free. This will have to do. I fall to my knees at Mae’s side. “Hold up her leg,” I tear a small piece from the section I just created. Bundling it, I open her helmet and place the fabric in her mouth. “Bite down on this. It’s going to hurt for a second, okay? Only a second.”
Tears stream from her eyes but she manages a nod.
“Able, here, take this—”
A white flare crashes into the stone wall, sending pieces crumbling down around us.
“Guys!” Reid shouts. All but Able rush next to Rox, creating a shield between us as they fire on the incoming Muskos.
“Hang on,” Able rests the forehead of his helmet to hers. “We’re going to get you out of here. We just need to stop the bleeding.” He hands me the opposite side of the lavender fabric and I make a knot around the wound, squeezing it tight.
Mae cries out a gut-wrenching sob.
“I know, I know,” my fingers shake. “All done. We’re going to get you something for the pain as soon as we—”
Another shot blasts overhead, sending more rocks crumbling down.
“We need to move,” Reid yells, stepping back. “NOW!”
Able slides his arms around Mae and picks her up. She sobs harder, crying into his chest as he turns to me and Pratt. “Where to?”
“Keep them distracted!” I shout, racing for my suit but another blast hits the wall and sends bits of rock soaring down on it. My helmet and suit are buried but I’m able to snag my Enidd before more debris falls. “Come on,” I lead Pratt and Able behind the wall.
“Not too far, Fallon!” Reid calls but I lose his voice in the thunderous booms shaking the stone walls surrounding us.
“This way,” Pratt scurries past me, holding her Enidd in front of her, navigating us through the stone labyrinth. With Mae in his arms, Able follows and I keep behind them, watching for any Muskos who might be trying to sneak up.
“Where are you going?” I shout back to Pratt.
“No idea!”
Curses rip from the other side of the stone, Enidd blasts flying every which way. Mae sobs harder and turning, I see Able pale. “It’s okay,” he comforts her, but when he looks at me, his face hardens with fear. “She’s got to have this leg looked at.”
“We’ll get her to the Healers as soon as we can.”
More booms sound off nearby, shaking the ground.
Which way do we go?
“Here!” Pratt calls, disappearing behind an ivy-covered stone wall. Able races with Mae and I follow, dashing behind them to find a secluded area blocked off by four stone boulders. A bit of green fauna hangs overhead, shielding most of the entrance.
“Pratt, you stay with Mae,” Able shifts to the ground, lowering her onto the sand.
“No…” Mae cries, tugging on his suit, holding him to her. “Don’t go!”
“I’m not going to let anyone get to you, but I have to stop them if they try. Fallon and I are going to keep you guys safe,” he removes her hands from his suit. “I’ll be right there. Pratt, I need your Enidd.”
Reluctantly she hands it over.
“Stay here, stay hidden. We won’t be far,” Able stands and we move away from the spot, positioning ourselves a few feet down the narrow passage. “I should help the guys out there.”
“You need to stay here and protect them.”
“It sounds like we’re being overrun.”
Closing my eyes, I concentrate. Clarence, we’re on the shore. We need help.
A moment and then, I’ll try to get to you. It seems there’s no end to these Muskos. Perio must’ve quadrupled their numbers since last time. Everyone okay up there?
Not really. Mae was hit and we’re being overrun. We have maybe, a few minutes.
I’m on my way.
Thunderous booms shake the walls and Able and I quickly exchange looks. “Clarence says he’s on his way but I don’t know if he’ll get here in time.”
“I’ll go help,” he starts to jet forward but I throw my arm out, stopping him.
“You stay here, protect Mae and Pratt.”
“You don’t even have a suit—”
“You don’t need a suit to kick ass,” I race through the stone labyrinth ahead. Before emerging onto the open shore, I nearly run into Walker and the Rogues who are blocking the exit between two walls, firing.
Tucker flies back, just missing a white blast, his eyes startled to see me. “Fallon?”
Reid jerks. “You okay?”
“Where are the girls?” Tucker’s focus shoots behind me.
“Able’s watching them. There’re in a small alcove not far from here.”
Another blast knocks into the wall, sending crumbles tumbling down. Reid motions behind me, to the next sharp turn. “Move back!”
As a unit, we all head to the next corner of the stone walls, disappearing behind it and firing down the passage at the Muskos who rush forward. Some race in blindly and the Rogues shoot at them, collapsing them to the ground. This time, the Muskos hold their guns out, firing from the other end of the crumbled wall where we just were. White blasts flash back and forth, pieces of stone crumbling around us.
“We’re trapping ourselves in here, Rox,” Walker says. “There’s got to be another way out.”
Reid turns to me. “Does it dead-end?”
I nod. “Pratt and Mae are there.”
“What’s the plan, Boss?” Jace asks. He curses and then spins behind the wall. Booker exchanges places with him, firing at the Muskos as the blonde Rogue cups his bleeding shoulder. “Fuck…again? What’s with them capping my shoulder?”
Clarence! We need you now!
“Unless there’s another way out of here, we need to hold them off!” Reid shouts. “Guys, watch yourselves!”
“Boss!” Werzo shouts, blasting his Enidd. “They’re gaining!”
“Do not let them gain! Give them no space!” he roars, turning to me. “How far back does this go?”
“Able’s just around that corner,” I gesture behind us.
Reid lets out a breath. Werzo curses and Reid pulls him back, exchanging places to continue firing on the Muskos.
“Jace…” I run up to him, cringing at the blood spilling from his shoulder. “Shit.”
“It’s fine.”
“Here,” I rip another section of my skirt and wrap it around the top of his arm. He curses again but I tie it tight, stopping the blood flow.
Fallon, Clarence’s voice rings. I’m here. Where are you?
In the walls. The Muskos have us trapped.
“Rox…” Tucker pants, dodging behind the stone protection. “I don’t know how much longer we can—”
The blazing white flares suddenly stop. Screams cry out from the other side and the walls have ceased crumbling. Reid holds up his hand, indicating a halt. Booker, Werzo, Walker and Tucker pause, each ducking behind the safety of the stone, scanning one another with confusion.
“Clarence is here,” I explain.
“There were like thirty of them,” Jace says. “He couldn’t possibly have stopped them all.”
Without waiting, I dash past the Rogues and out over broken bits of wall. The others call for me to stop, to but I can’t. I need to know that Clarence is all right. Turning past the last bit of still-standing stone, I dig my heels into the sand with a halt.
The beach is covered in hundreds of bodies—half of them sage and half of them gold.
Gold?
Nerwos. The Northern inhabitants of Nerwolix came to our aid near the end of the invasion three months ago. And they’re here again now. But how? And why? Dressed in limited brown leather, it conceals what it should, but is mostly used for strapping long blades to their arms which makes them lethal when flying through a herd of enemies. And there are plenty out here. I pick through them and spot Clarence amongst the chaos. He’s firing on the Muskos as they ascend from the water, but less and less are surfacing.
