Kaleb kept his head down and tried to look beaten as Roy dragged him through the mansion. They had found some rope and tied his hands behind his back. Roy kept a firm hand on his arm and pretended to lead him around forcefully. Unfortunately, they had to put the electromagnet back on his arm to keep the lie believable.
Roy had been right, dozens of Faceless were running around the mansion. They rarely spared Roy and Kaleb a glance as they moved from the cellar, through the kitchen, and down another hallway. What creeped Kaleb out was that all the Faceless running around were being eerily quiet. No one was shouting orders, and no one was asking questions. They were all running around as if they already knew what was going on and where they needed to be.
Roy jerked on his bound arms again as they entered the foyer. Two ornate staircases led straight up to the second floor, with the third floor visible from the entryway they stood in. Kaleb heard the front door open and close several times before as people entered and exited the mansion. The pair climbed the stairs with Roy leading Kaleb off to the left. Roy had said the room was off the hall to the left with only one guard.
They weaved around several fast-walking Faceless and turned into a dimly lit hallway. Halfway down the hallway was a Faceless guard sitting in a wooden chair. Kaleb kind of hoped the guy was asleep but as they moved closer, he saw that wasn’t the case. The guard stood as the approached and tilted his head curiously at Kaleb.
“The Master wants the two lizard prisoners brought to him together.” Roy’s muffled voice said from behind the Faceless mask he wore.
The guard continued to stare at the both before he, without speaking, moved to open the room door. Kaleb exhaled a silent breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding. There was an audible click as the guard unlocked the door and stood aside to let them both in. Roy nodded at the guard and shoved Kaleb forward into the room.
Inside was a rather plain bedroom with a few dressers, a couple of cabinets, and a plain bed. Setting at a dresser looking not a little pissed, was Wulkun. The old lizard was sitting facing the door, holding a makeshift weapon and when Kaleb and Roy entered Wulkun stood, ready to fight. Kaleb smirked as he studied the old lizard’s choice of a weapon, it looked like Wulkun had pulled the leg from a table and was ready to use it as a club.
“I might not have use of my left arm, but I think I can take you.” Kaleb grinned at Wulkun.
Wulkun looked surprised for a moment before he smiled back. “You’re about 20 years too early to have a go at me, hatchling.”
“Quiet!” Roy barked, remaining in character. “The Master wants to see…”
The door behind them slamming shut cut Roy off, and the loud click of the lock seemed to echo through the room. Kaleb and Roy shared a look before Roy took his Faceless mask off and swore.
“Shit, what the hell happened?”
Kaleb wiggled free of his bindings and pried the electromagnet off his Arm. “No idea, how did he realize you weren’t one of them?”
Wulkun swept his gaze over Roy and Kaleb before he sighed loudly. “The Mask. Ever since they went on lock-down, they have been using the Masks to communicate with each other. When you didn’t, the guard must have gotten suspicious.”
Roy flipped the mask around in his hands. “It can do that?!”
“They are not just for decoration.” Wulkun said.
Kaleb and Roy stared into the back of the plain white mask. Other than the eye holes though it looked plain. It wasn’t until Kaleb ran his hand over the different parts of the mask that he found any semblance of electronics. But it was ultra-thin and almost seemed baked into the mask.
“How did a street gang get a hold of something like this?” Kaleb asked in wonder.
Wulkun sighed and sat back down. “The Master. He can create low grade electronic constructs. But only so many that’s why The Faceless aren’t a bigger gang. He uses those mask to coordinate the rest of the Faceless while he rules from this mansion.”
Roy nodded as he asked. “So what all can they do?”
“I’m not sure. Some say he uses them to control the other members of the gang. Others say he can transfer some of his skills between the mask. It’s all very spooky and mystical.” Wulkun said sarcastically.
“Well either way, what’s the plan now, Roy?” Kaleb asked his assistant.
But Roy just shook his head. “I don‘t know. My whole plan was contingent on them not knowing I am here. I do not think we can sneak out of here.”
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Kaleb nodded in agreement before looking to Wulkun.
“Don’t look at me. They’ve been holding me for a while, hoping to get some kind of payment from the Brute Clan. But we are a stubborn Clan and not ones to pay a gang for protection. I honestly expected them to kill me long before now.” Wulkun explained.
“Why didn’t they?” Kaleb wondered. “I mean they have to have known that the Brute Clan would not pay a ransom or anything.”
Wulkun sighed. “When they realized they weren’t getting any money from us, The Master turned his sights to recruiting us. Same as the Elders of our race, he thinks of us as good cannon fodder. But my Brute Clan are not criminals and we will never join a petty cause such as his.”
“So The Master wants more front-line soldiers for his gang?” Kaleb pondered aloud. “So, what? He has been trying to recruit you?”
Wulkun gave a toothy smile. “I have been humoring him, hoping some young ones of the Clan would come up with a plan to get me out of here.”
Kaleb took out his Sun Gun and passed it to Wulkun, who took it carefully. “Well, we are here. So let’s get going.”
“You have a plan?” Roy asked sounding surprised.
Kaleb shrugged, moving to the door and testing the handle. “Same as when I started out, really. We punch our way outside and signal the rest of the Clan.”
Wulkun’s eyes seemed to bulge from his head. “You know that is not really a plan?”
Kaleb nodded. True it wasn’t the best idea, but he couldn’t think of anything else. He would have to watch over both Wulkun and Roy as they made their escape. I hate escort missions. Kaleb thought as he drew his Magic Gun and aimed it at the door. He really hoped they could make it outside.
Kaleb was focusing his Mana into a large fireball and pictured it exploding from his gun when the door opened suddenly. Kaleb kept focusing as Wulkun stood ready to move and Roy deployed a stun baton from his bracer. A masked man, taller than Kaleb, glided into the room. He wore a mask like the rest of the Faceless. But someone had emblazoned this one with a large purple M.
Well, that’s sort of obvious. Kaleb thought as he adjusted his aim while the masked man seemed to study them.
Eventually The Master raised his arms theatrically and spoke in a booming voice. “I AM THE MASTER!”
Kaleb smiled and released his Magic. “Bye, Master.”
A giant red-orange fireball burst forth from his Magic gun, causing a massive spike of pain to slam into Kaleb’s forehead. The fireball seemed to engulf The Master’s tall form and continued on. Through the door, out into the hall, and through the opposite wall. Kaleb didn’t waste anytime as he charged forward shouting at his two companions.
“Let’s hope it’s that easy!”
“It won’t be.” Wulkun answered as he followed Kaleb through the burning wreckage that used to be the door.
Roy brought up the rear, and the three charged into the smoking hallway. Not pausing, Kaleb quickly turned and ran for the entrance. As Kaleb ran, he noticed that unlike when they first moved through the mansion; it was noisy. People were shouting and screaming, and Kaleb was sure he heard fighting coming from the foyer.
Kaleb’s assumptions proved correct when he moved to the top of the stairs and looked down. The entire lobby was full of Faceless fighting several people. As Kaleb watched, he noticed that the Faceless’ enemies seemed to be mutants. There was a man with one arm larger than the other with a clawed hand attack people, a woman with reverse-jointed grasshopper-like legs jumping around, and an amorphous flesh-colored blob rolling around eating screaming Faceless.
“What the fuck?!” Kaleb asked aloud.
“It’s the Phreaks. A rival gang. They must have staged a raid on the Faceless’ territory.” Wulkun answered from behind Kaleb.
Kaleb turned to ask more and saw Roy fighting a gray skinned Faceless. Kaleb drew his Cybar pistol to help but Roy ducked a large haymaker and jabbed his stun baton into the Faceless’ throat. The Faceless jolted as electricity coursed through him before collapsing in a heap. Roy turned to see Kaleb watching him and smiled.
“Are we leaving?” Roy asked.
Kaleb nodded as a booming voice answered from a nearby wall. “No! You are not!”
The wall above the foyer exploded outward as The Master floated on a white sheet that looked like a Faceless mask. Kaleb mentally swore as he noted that the Master appeared unharmed. The Master turned to Kaleb and his two friends, completely unconcerned with the melee going on below him. The Master waved his hand a small piece of a white mask appeared in his hand. Kaleb had just enough time to realize that it looked like a small dagger before The Master threw it at him.
Kaleb dove down the stairs away from the projectile but he felt it punch into his thigh. Kaleb rolled awkwardly a few steps before he stood and returned fire with his Cybar. With his other hand he pulled the sharp white piece of mask out of his leg. The Master deflected Kaleb shots as he raised his hand and created more mask to block the energy burst. Kaleb kept firing until he had to vent the pistol and then he prepared to jump to the lobby.
But before Kaleb could jump a yellow energy burst slammed into the master’s chest, making him take a step back. Kaleb glanced up the stairs to see Wulkun firing his Sun Gun. Roy seemed to be darting around, guarding the old lizards back. Kaleb watched as the master regained his footing and blocked the blast coming from Wulkun. He briefly wondered why The Master wasn’t attacking until it came to him: The Master couldn’t use his power to attack and defend at the same time. It was one or the other.
Kaleb smiled as his gun finished venting. It wasn’t a sustainable plan, but he and Wulkun could keep The Master occupied until the Sun Gun ran out of charge. Kaleb hobbled down a few steps until he was even with the main entrance and aimed his Magic gun out the front door. As he focused his Magic, he fired his Cybar pistol up at the floating Master. As Kaleb started his barrage, Wulkun stopped his and moved down the stairs to stand next to Kaleb.
Roy had wielded two batons as he fought Faceless on the second floor landing. When Wulkun moved, Roy made a large swing with his left baton to clear space and jumped back. Kaleb almost laughed as he watched Roy land ass first on the stair’s railing and slide down to him and Wulkun.
“Show off.” Kaleb said through gritted teeth as he concentrated on his Magic gun.
Roy just smiled and wiped sweat from his forehead as he prepared to guard the stairs. Wulkun stared at the pair before asking Kaleb.
“What are you doing with that second gun, Hatchling?”
“Your turn.” Kaleb said as he vented his Cybar pistol again. Luckily, Wulkun seemed to know what he meant and fired his Sun Gun up at The Master. Wulkun kept The Master occupied as Kaleb smiled and focused his attention back on his Magic Gun and answered Wulkun.
“I’m calling the reinforcements.”
Kaleb released his Magic and a pinwheel of gold, white, yellow, and blue sparks spun out from the end of his gun. The cavalcade of color spun over the tops of the fighting gang members and through the front door. Kaleb silently counted down from ten in his head and smiled when he got to one and a large secondary explosion lit up the foyer from outside. Turning to Wulkun, Kaleb asked.
“Do you think that got Aqwen’s attention?”