෴Hex෴
෴Stilt-Ivaldison෴
෴Chrome෴
෴Wraith෴
෴Barricade෴
෴Razor෴
෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴
Multitasking
෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴
Hex was, as always, doing many things at once. One aspect was crouched next to Dr. Stilt in the civilian housing unit at a military research outpost in south-central Chad. That aspect was aiming her rifle out into the outpost, looking for any threats, and waiting for a signal from Raz.
Another aspect was sending two children off to preschool with hugs and kisses. Her parents commented that her goodbyes were just a little more intense and emotional than normal. She didn’t have any way to deflect this, so simply nodded in agreement and settled in for a day of caring for her aging parents and maintaining what remained of her original life.
Another aspect was connected via secure link, to a VR conference call with several members of WD40.
The virtual conference room was set on a damp Scottish moor. In the real world, the threatening clouds would have been promising a cold wind, and even colder rain. Rather than a floating glass room, the meeting was a set of simple stone chairs at a round stone table inscribed with strange writing that seemed to change when you weren't looking at it.
Several avatars sat around the table. A tiny blonde anime ‘magical girl’ looking creature stood in one of the other chairs. This avatar looked like it would be at home in any kids show, except for the various colored tentacles that occasionally peeked out from under her various articles of clothing. A figure that resembled a human being made of living concrete sat next to a silvery metal figure who was perched stiffly in one of the chairs, with his hands hidden beneath the table. The last arrival was a woman not using any special avatar. Where other avatars in the room were all in some way lightly or heavily stylized, Razor appeared to be using a standard camera scan setup, looking as she always did, if a bit more stressed and concerned than usual.
The avatar running meeting, standing and gesticulating as it spoke was a female-shaped slice of the empty blackness of space. Hex's avatar had no ornamentation beyond six points of light, like a view of distant stars that slowly moved around the surface of the inky black form in response to an unknown stimulus.
“Chris, so glad you could make it. Thanks for helping him get in here, Cade.” The metal and concrete figures nodded at this.
“Wesley, Rachel, I appreciate you taking the time to have this chat. It’s turned out to be bad timing for me, so I need to make this quick. We’ve all seen what’s happening with Wilson. Losing Darby has him all messed up, and I don’t think Reilly is helping.”
A video screen appeared in front of each of them. It was poised to play a video of the interrogation of Hex conducted by Wilson and Raven.
“Wraith, thanks for rescuing this video when Reilly tried to scrub it. I heard they’re spinning it like I just randomly attacked Wilson. That’s bullshit. He attacked me with his abilities, and I responded in kind,” she shrugged, “That’s always been the unwritten rule. Start trouble with powers, gloves are off,” she leaned over the table, resting on both fists. ”But, while I want the record set straight, this isn't the point. Wraith, can you put up the other video please?”
The anime girl nodded, and another video appeared before each person. This one was an amalgamation of drone and sentry weapon cameras that showed the meeting and transaction where the captured speedster Lisa was transferred for the bounty.
“Wilson just sold that prisoner! I know you’ve all heard the rumors. Maybe it’s not all true, but some bad things are happening to those people, and I think you’re the ones who still have enough of a moral compass to see it. I don’t know what's happening to those people, but I’m getting some pretty damn creepy reports of people with abilities getting arrested for bullshit charges, then showing up later with what amounts to a slave chip installed, or turning up dead in the obvious aftermath of combat, and mostly, just disappearing for good.”
The starlit black avatar slumped and rested her hands on the table. “When Darby was here, we did some jobs that were a bit iffy. He’s been gone less than a week and we’re part of the slave trade. I’m not willing to find out what we’ll be doing next week.”
She sat down hard, as though she’d run out of the energy to stand. “Watch the videos, Wraith has a few more to show you what I’m talking about. If you have any questions, I’m here to answer them. I’ve got things to do, places to be. So don’t take all day about it, we can reconvene later if you have questions that don’t get answered here.”
The silvery metal figure turned its head to look at her. “I have a question.”
She nodded. “Of course Chris, what do you need?”
“Why am I here?” he paused and looked at the other avatars. “I’m with you, that’s for sure. I won’t be taking that kind of blood money. But seriously.” he looked down at his arms that extended under the table. “I’m no good to anyone now. They’re already trying to talk me into consenting to a double amputation for ‘quality of life’ improvements. I don’t know what I can do for you.” The silvery figure slumped back into the chair with a grunt of discomfort, as though this admission had cost him all his energy.
The black starlit figure seemed to perk up and possibly even be smiling. “Well, I’m so glad to hear that you’re on board. I didn’t want to tell you ahead of time, but I’ve got some friends that should be able to get you fixed up. I’m getting that set up as fast as I can. Do not let them cut your hands off!”
Chrome started to speak, but Hex didn’t allow him to interrupt. “I didn’t want to tell you ahead of time. I didn’t want you to feel like it was in any way contingent on you joining us. I’m going to get your hands fixed whether or not you decide to join us. But—Actually,” she looked over at the anime girl. “Wraith, maybe you should show him that other video.”
The somber expression on the anime girl crumpled. In an instant going from serious to on the brink of soul-crushing sadness. “Are you sure?”
She shrugged. “He deserves to know.”
“Then let’s all see it.” Chris focussed on the new video and started it playing for everyone.
*** *** ***
Inside the atrium of the Atlanta WD40 office. Several angles flashed on the screen, showing Doktor Midnight from multiple angles, walking toward the door in a pale yellow metallic suit.
He paused at the door. “Send me the location of your man with the ability-related problem. I’ll get him help as soon as I can.”
The room was silent as he left the building.
As Midnight walked out toward the jet-black classic car, Wilson turned away from the door and started grunting commands as loudly as he could through his wired jaw.
During a pause, Wraith interjected. “Boss, I’ve got the digital dead drop ready. What should I send him?”
Wilson turned to glare at the camera. “Nothing! That piece of—” He managed to barely get himself under control. “Don’t send him anything. I don’t want him getting any more of our intel.”
Wraith tried again. “I meant info about Chris. I can send him just that address. He did offer to help out.”
Wilson’s veins on his forehead pulsed visibly. “I SAID NOTHING!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, the words garbled by his closed mouth. “No. More. Intel! Do you get me Wesley, or do I need to come up there and make myself clear?”
Wraith responded, sounding thoroughly cowed. “Yes sir. Um, but what about Chris?”
Wilson turned away from the camera and stalked toward his office. “What about him? At least he’s still alive. He should just be thankful for that.”
*** *** ***
Chris sat there staring at the screen after the video ended, looking up at the other avatars in the virtual space around the table. “So that’s how it is?”
Hex nodded sadly. “I’m sorry. That’s hard to watch.” The figure of starlit night wrung her hands together. “I wasn’t sure if you should see it, but maybe it’s for the best.”
Cade reached over and put his concrete arm over Chris’s shiny metal shoulders. “Hey man, we’re with you all the way.”
Chris nodded and looked at Hex. “I’m with you. Can’t do much right now, but I'm with you either way.”
This time the smile on her face made of stars and void was clear in her voice. “That’s good to hear. Let’s all discuss any other concerns before I have to get going.”
As the others talked, incoming private messages pinged her.
[Wraith: Whatever you’re starting up, I’m in. I can’t be part of WD40 anymore.]
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
[Cade: Chris and I are all in. Wilson made a promise to us, and now he’s more than broken it.]
[Razor: My family can’t afford for me to be out of work. But if you’re bankrolled for this, I’m in.]
[Chrome: wth u]
She thought of his ruined hands and what must have gone into those few keystrokes, and quickly hit mute so the others wouldn’t hear her sniffling.
Elsewhere, the rest of the active Hex aspects were gearing up for battle. Standing in several storage units looking at her significantly diminished armory of heavy weapons, she verified there were enough rifles, sidearms, and ammo to go around. Another aspect scowled at her phone before accepting the call. After that, she started thinking about where she could steal some rocket launchers.
*** *** ***
Like the voice of god, Raz’s message thundered in her mind. “Come over to this tower.” a visual waypoint appeared in her view, making it clear which tower he meant.
Hex didn’t waste time marveling at how useful this feature was, just grabbed Stilt by the arm. “We need to go right now!”
The scientist responded sluggishly, nearly paralyzed by fear. She started to shake, letting out near silent sobs of fear.
Hex scowled at the woman, “Do you want to cry, or do you want to live? If we stay here, we’re dead, at best. We don’t know who’s attacking, but they’re attacking a US military outpost. I don’t feel like getting gang-raped then killed today. How about you?”
The scientist looked at her with wide eyes and shook her head.
Hex looked back out the window, then at her charge. “Ok then, put on your big girl panties, and let’s go.”
The two slipped out of the converted storage container and snuck over to the tower waypoint. The waypoint blinked out when they arrived. She turned in time to spot Raz appearing around a nearby corner. The thighs of his pants looked wet and shiny in the irregular outpost lighting.
A heavy scent of fresh blood accompanied him.
Stilt started to say something as Raz put a finger to his lips and shook his head. Hex elbowed Stilt and made a zipping motion across her lips. The scared scientist nodded and waited in silence.
That silence was shattered by an outcry across the camp, and the sudden, shocking wave of painful noise as the soldier manning the heavy machine gun just above them opened fire. The thunderous sound punctuated by occasional flashes of light when a tracer round lit the ground around them like a strobe.
Once again the voice of god thundered in her mind. “Get yourself and Stilt in the hole, we’re out of time!”
A small waypoint appeared above the pallets next to them. Hex looked around and spotted the smooth-walled opening concealed behind the leaning pallets.
She put her mouth to Dr. Stilt’s ear “Get into this hole, we need to be ready to go!” she shouted over the sound. The scientist nodded and started to crawl into the hole. She recoiled and showed Hex a hand covered in drying blood.
Hex shouted into her ear again. “Are you hurt?”
Stilt shook her head and wiped off the drying blood. Hex pointed into the hole again.
The physicist reluctantly crawled into the smooth hole through the loose stone wall. Once she was in, Hex maneuvered her rifle to crawl into the hole herself, the thunder of machinegun fire still blocking out all other sounds.
Raz’s voice resounded in her mind louder even than the .50 caliber machine guns. “Get going now, we’re out of time.”
The machine guns fell silent with a crash of metal.
Elsewhere, another aspect made conversation with her father while she doled out her parents’ mid-morning medication.
In her Atlanta apartment, someone started banging insistently on her door.
Yet elsewhere, she answered a question from Razor, about the finances and logistics of breaking away from WD40.
Beyond all of that, two aspects wearing nondescript dark clothing with helmets crept through a pitch-black secure warehouse using high-end night vision and helmet-mounted IR illuminators. When they located the stack of crates labeled FGM-148, several aspects in combat gear appeared. Working together, they lifted crates with CLU markings, off the ground then vanished. A moment later they re-appeared and did the same with a set of smaller crates marked as FGM-148-M.
A few seconds later, the aspect in Chad received another booming mental message. “Getting one more thing, I’ll catch up. Just get her to the gate as fast as you can.”
Across the world, every aspect of Hex suddenly looked frustrated and scared. Before anyone could notice or comment, she regained control of herself and continued to usher Dr. Stilt along toward the signal from Brock’s device.
They ran across the sand, Hex drawing strength from her fears, and half dragging, half guiding Dr. Stilt along the way.
She glanced back at the outpost in time to see a muscular figure leaping high into the air. She tightened her grip on the scientist and ran faster.
The indicator on the device on her arm started to flash. Hex slowed down and looked around.
“We’re close. Keep an eye out for a door from your husband.”
Dr. Stilt looked at the device then pointed straight ahead. “That model of indicator doesn’t scale right. We’re not as close as it looks. Judging by that arrow, it’ll be up on that rocky ridge ahead.”
Hex looked back with trepidation, then wrestled her focus back to the mission. “Lets hurry then. We don’t want to get caught out here in the open.”
Dr. Stilt suddenly stopped short. “Wait. Those bug monsters. I think they’re attracted to vibration!”
Hex shrugged. “You might be right. But there’s a battle going on down there behind us, if the fifty cals and that big guy jumping thirty feet in the air didn’t call them in for dinner, maybe there aren't any around.”
She looked back at the outpost then at her charge. “None of that matters. We’re close to the door and I need to get you through it! So move!”
They scrambled up toward the stone outcropping. Under the light of the moon, they both stopped short at the ridge. Directly before them was a steep sandy slope leading to an abrupt drop off. Hex risked turning on her weapon light. The illuminated cliff looked no less abrupt.
“It says this is the place. I hope that door arrives soon.” the Hex aspect said, as she pushed herself to gain the working knowledge of the location as fast as she could.
A shimmer appeared in the air next to them. A few seconds later, the shimmer was joined by a humming sound. The humming got lower until it was a deep throbbing that vibrated the stone around them and rattled their teeth.
“You said they’re attracted to vibration right?” She shouted over the rhythmic deep thrumming sound.
Stilt looked back at her and nodded with tightly pursed lips.
Hex scowled. “Well, that’s just great.”
As suddenly as it had begun, the noise stopped. The shimmering shape began to solidify.
Dr. Stilt kept looking around them, jumping at every shadow.
Hex laid a hand on her forearm. “We’re here. What are you so worried about?”
“The creature we’re assuming is the anchor beast sleeps near here. We spotted it with seismic imaging. If it wakes up, we and everyone in that outpost will be done for.”
The door continued to fade into solid view.
“What exactly is an anchor beast?”
“It’s usually one of the first creatures that come through an anomaly like this. They seem to feed on the energy of the anomaly..”
“That doesn't sound so bad. So they don’t eat people?” Hex replied.
Stilt shook her head. “Oh no, they’ll absolutely eat people or anything else they can get hold of. They just don’t seem to need to. They keep growing. I don’t know if they ever stop.” She looked at the translucent gate and shook her fist at the phantasmal shape. “Damnit Brock, get this door open!”
Hex glanced around them. “Why do you call them anchor beasts?”
The door seemed like it was almost ready. Dr. Stilt ignored Hex and started to edge closer to where the door would appear. They could both hear the sound of isolated rifle shots from the outpost.
Looking around them for threats, Hex grabbed the older woman by the neck. “Listen bitch, the door isn’t here yet. Sounds to me like you know some things I might need to know. Start talking or you can find out how high that cliff is the hard way.”
The scientist recoiled hard and began to fall down the steep sandy slope toward the cliff. Hex let her rifle drop onto the sling and caught the other woman’s flailing hand and a handful of her light jacket.
“Damn girl, I was bluffing about the cliff, you didn’t need to jump off it yourself.” she tried to walk back her previously harsh tone.
The woman took a few steadying breaths, looked at the door as it was almost solid, and nodded thanks to Hex. “What do you want to know?”
“Why do you call them anchor beasts?”
“We’ve managed to make an anomaly disappear before. We managed it by killing almost all of the creatures that had come through. The last one that they killed was this huge creature. It was so much larger than the others. They took it out with a rain of hellfire missiles. I estimated it was already around 75 tons. It wasn’t even especially aggressive, kind of like a giant ladybug.”
Hex looked at the doctor with wide eyes. “And that closed the gate?”
Dr. Stilt looked at her with suspicion. “It caused the anomaly to vanish. Who told you they’re gates?”
Hex gave the other woman an impatient look and rolled her eyes. “Um, duh. Things come through them. How big do these anchor beasts get?”
The door into Brock’s workshop appeared and solidified. This time there was a golden shimmer over the door, and no accompanying blast of wind.
Dr. Stilt made for the door. Hex grabbed her arm and held her back. “How big?!”
Dr. Stilt glanced around as though suddenly afraid that talking about it would summon one. “Big.”
Hex wasn’t satisfied. “How big!? Give me some sense of what we’re talking about! Is it like, you wake them up and they march through the ocean and go destroy Tokyo?”
Dr. Stilt swallowed audibly and nodded. “Yeah. A lot like that. Now let me go!”
Hex all but shoved her through the gate, only stopping her to say one last thing. “Remind him that part of his deal is a safe return home for us!”
As soon as Dr. Stilt passed through the door, Hex was running back the way she’d come.
Somewhere out in the darkness, far past where she could see, Hex heard, or perhaps felt, something deep in the earth and more vast than she cared to think about, shifting uneasily.
“That’s probably not good news. The last thing we need is to add some damn Kaiju to the party,” she muttered to herself as she ran.
The motion and sound of shifting stone and sand died back down, but she found herself sneaking glances in that direction as she jogged toward the outpost.
Just as she was reaching rifle range, Raz’s message voice blasted in her mind. “Go back! Get out of here!”
She gave a smile that was more of a grimace. “Honey, I love you, but you aren’t the boss of me,” she whispered to herself. “Also, we need to talk about your volume. This shouting in my head is getting old.”
Back in Atlanta, she answered the door with a sidearm in hand, her heavily-armed backup hidden just out of sight. Using the peephole, she holstered the weapon, relaxed, and opened the door. As soon as she got a better look at her visitor, she cocked her head to the side in confusion. “What happened to you?”
An armored hand shoved the door open and grabbed her by the front of her jacket. “There’s no time! Where is he!? I need his current location right now!” a low gravelly but still familiar voice demanded. Confused and scared, she told him what she knew about the Chad location.
The moment she finished, the blast of air and sudden vacuum staggered her as the armored figure blasted straight through the wall of the apartment complex, leaving sonic booms behind almost instantly.
Back at the outpost, as she neared the hole in the wall, another message rang out loudly in her head. “Just go! You promised—” the message broke down into a sort of pink noise static and then faded.
In a quiet suburban home, a young woman suddenly went from casually chatting with her parents about local events to crying inconsolably. Elsewhere, the black starlit sky avatar crumpled in place and then disconnected. In a staging area where several of her aspects were located, a grim silence broken only by heavy breathing enveloped the room as every aspect began to work faster as they blinked away a hot sudden rush of tears.
Back in Atlanta, she looked at the devastation in the stairwell and shook her head. “So much for opsec, or being subtle. I’m going to have to move now.” She wiped her eyes and went back inside, frowning at the embossed brushed titanium business card that had been left at her feet. The card was for a place she’d never heard of, that listed no contact information or address beyond a set of GPS coordinates.
Back in the Sahara where she could actually take some action, she limited her emotional response to a single soft outburst. “Damn you, Raz. You better not be dead,” she muttered as she slipped into the hole in the wall.