The grate at the end of the short tunnel had a thick bolt on the other side of the left hinge. James could just about see a large open room beyond, mostly white and light grey colours. Sam slid his fingers through the bars, managing to move the bolt up, and continued to slide the bolt upwards until he was able to rotate it away from the hinge. He gripped the grate with his fingers and pushed it open, careful not to make too much noise.

They came out into a large factory, surrounded by dormant conveyor belts and various machinery, and ducked behind a cabinet to surveyed the area. There appeared to be no one around, from what James could see. The faint hum of the idle machines and a soft sigh of steam coming from somewhere nearby was all that could be heard.

“We should be safe to move around in here,” Sam said quietly. “But stay on your guard.”

A walkway ran the length of the room above them, leading to a door on the left and right walls. Following Sam’s lead, they rounded the cabinet and ascended a metal staircase up to the walkway, making their way to the door on the right wall.

James surveyed the area from the higher ground. Conveyor belts ran into rounded cylinders, dotted with rows of inch-wide windows, that reached up to the ceiling. Some belts entered the bulky consoles and glass cabinets that housed tech systems, stretching the length of the room like a great spider web. James wondered what kind of a production line he was seeing. Several cardboard boxes were stacked along one wall, with labels he couldn’t read from this distance. He guessed they were the pharmacological products the warehouse produced.

Sam looked through the small window of the door before giving the signal to go through. On the other side was a short stairway which they ascended to find another door at the top. There was no window for Sam to look through, so he slowly opened it and looked in. James’s nerves caused his heart to pound, feeling like guards would be on them at any moment. He couldn’t believe he’d gotten himself into this situation. Just this morning he thought his biggest problem of the day would be getting through all his work tasks.

They entered a carpeted hallway that stretched out on both sides. A row of offices with large glass windows spread out opposite them. They stood still for a moment, listening for movements or voices, although the offices appeared to be empty. James thought he could hear footsteps from somewhere beyond the walls, though couldn’t be sure. The lack of people they’d seen made him even more anxious. He’d expected to be sneaking behind unassuming workers, like some spy cast.

“We’ll search the offices,” Sam said quietly as he moved to the room in front of him.

“What exactly are we looking for?” James asked as he entered the next office.

Evan entered the next office down the line.

“Anything that looks out of the ordinary,” came Sam’s voice from the other side of the thin wall. “Anything with Sacre’s name, connections to Laillen’s parent company, Codo Industries or Jaxx’s Dyna Core. Paperwork, data discs, pads, terminal data dumps.”

James scanned the small cubicle, his eyes falling on shelves and a polished wooden desk beside a filing cabinet. The desk had no computer console or data pads, and none of the walls housed terminals. The place was clean and uncluttered, which made him wonder if these offices were often used. He searched the drawers of the desk, finding stationery and office paraphernalia, but nothing of interest. Cursory glances over papers from plastic holders also proved unhelpful.

While he inspected the filing cabinet, he heard Evan call out in the office next to him. He looked up to see Sam already making his way toward the Voarn.

“I believe I may have found something.” Evan sounded unsure when all three of them were in the office. “This paper has one of the names you mentioned. Dyna Core, see, on the top there. I am unfamiliar with many of the other words.”

“It’s a correspondence regarding a shipping order,” Sam said, viewing the memo. “For a shipment of equipment. They say the micro-equipment will ship after confirmation of the transaction. They will be dispatched after phases two and three are completed.” There was a faded stamp of a local medical company at the bottom, and the round logo of Laillen Technical watermarked beside it. “Most likely a code.”

“Looks like it,” James murmured over his shoulder.

““Good work, Evan.” Sam folded the paper and slid it into his satchel. “Did you find anything else?”

Evan pointed to a shelf. “That was in that binder. With other papers.”

Sam shuffled through the binder and then unclipped a square device from his belt; something James didn’t recognise as Rimas Complete equipment. When Sam placed each paper onto the desk, he captured an image of each one, which made it clear what the device was.

“We can look these over later,” Sam said as he clipped the camera to his belt. He looked to Evan, gesturing to the desk monitor. “Have you checked the console?”

“I… am unfamiliar with the device.”

“Not to worry,” Sam assured him, and they made their way to the desk.

The screen came to life as Sam sat down, along with a holographic keyboard of yellow lights which appeared on the desk at the base of the monitor. It was a standard keyboard formation, but also had smaller grids and sections of other buttons. James wasn’t sure what he found more interesting, that he’d never seen such technology in Tyken Town before, or that Sam was so familiar with it.

Sam explored the computer, tapping the holographic keys and moving his fingers around some parts of the strange keyboard. James kept an eye on the corridor beyond the glass windows, waiting for someone to walk by at any moment.

Through the faint light of the monitor, Sam’s expression darkened. “V’idrakhan. Salsihcous Aken. Jrulfaz.”

“What are they?” James asked.

“Viruses. Poisons,” Sam said between thoughts. “This one, Malb, is a potent poison. Usually used by high level assassins, very hard to detect, and even harder to come by.”

Evan asked, “Why are they listed?”

“Not sure. They’re part of a dispatch order. Nothing on their intended use. Whatever it is, it can’t be good. These two, I don’t know of.”

James leaned closer over Sam’s shoulder.

“Phirsmofal, and Hikorax,” Sam said, pointing

James shook his head, not surprised that he wasn’t familiar with the names. He repeated the words over and over to himself. “Wait a minute,” he gasped as a thought struck him. “What was that last one?”

“Hikorax?” Sam eyebrows rose when he heard the word again.

“What does that sound like?” James asked. “Don’t that sound like Higero Jaxx? In a combined way?”

Sam looked thoughtful. “It could be. But what would that mean? Why would Jaxx’s name be on this list?”

“Could be a poison of some kind?” James suggested. “Maybe made by Jaxx?”

“Or,” Evan said, “it is derived from this man Higero Jaxx.”

An unnerving silence fell over them as they considered the suggestion.

“Well that’s an unpleasant thought.” Sam inspected the computer further and added, “They call it a prototype. Here, they name something a Mieer’Baithon. Which is interesting. If it derives from the Canarrian word, mie’ra, for collective, or multiple.” Sam’s off-world inflection pronounced the word much better than James could have.

“The combination of these viruses and poisons?” Evan ventured.

“Could be,” Sam said thoughtfully. “Not all of them sound harmful, though.” After some time, he nodded and powered down the console. James watched the holographic keyboard fade into non-existence and stared at the space it left.

“Okay.” Sam stood up. “We’ll finish up the last office. We can’t linger too long.”

“We will not find anything in there,” Evan told them, and looked away as if embarrassed to have said so.

Sam regarded the Voarn with some hesitation. “We won’t know until we look.”

Evan nodded, though it was clear he still didn’t agree with Sam.

They searched the remaining office, with little help from Evan, and soon found that the room contained nothing of interest. James had to wonder why Evan had been so sure they wouldn’t find anything, but decided to focus on listening out for anyone who might be nearby.

They went through the double doors at the end of the hallway and came to a short stairwell, where they headed up to the next level. Their footsteps echoed on the metal steps far too loudly for James’s comfort.

Sam slowly opened the door at the top, where he paused and waited. James could hear the low conversation of two people, who he guessed where walking nearby. After some time, when the voices had faded away and a door closed somewhere, Sam led them into another carpeted hallway. Instead of offices, there was only one door on the left wall, along with two exit doors opposite each other at the far end of the corridor.

A faint blue light emanated from the window of the thick metal door, casting dull shadows on the wall. They reminded James of a shadow puppet show he’d once seen outside the Sab Sina Market, although these shadows seemed ominous to him.

Crouching low, Sam looked through the small window. After a moment, he turned back to his companions. “There are two men. Scientists, most like. One of them has a clipboard monitoring a machine and the other is by a terminal on the far end.” He returned to the window as the light grew and ebbed. There was uncertainty in his voice when he added, “We shouldn’t interact.”

“Yeah,” James agreed. “This isn’t what we’re here for.”

“Something is not right,” Evan said, his voice lowering in that troubled way which James had learned meant he knew something they didn’t. “We are needed in there.”

James cast him a confused look and fought to keep his frustration in. He’d had about enough of Evan’s strange actions, and now wasn’t the time for them. “We said we’d go in and out without being noticed.”

“Once again you do not listen to me,” Evan said, with surprising venom. “We are needed in that room, James. Sam—”

Sam tensed when something caught his eye through the window. “Wait. I see someone else. A man is strapped to a table.”

“A man? What are they doing?” James asked, growing concerned now.

Sam strained for a better look. “I can’t tell.”

“He is imprisoned,” Evan told them defiantly, as if he’d been telling them so all along.

“They have tubes attached to him,” Sam went on. “Or attached to the table. I can’t be sure.”

“We must help him.” Evan’s voice was stronger now.

Conflict and indecision tore at James’s insides. A man may need their help, but they weren’t meant to be seen in the warehouse.

“This man needs our help,” Evan said with growing frustration.

James glared back at Evan. “We don’t know who those people are or what they’re doing.” He wouldn’t let Evan bully him and was adamant not to back down, whether he was right or wrong. “We ain’t here for this.”

James realised he was afraid to admit that he wanted to leave, even if that meant leaving the imprisoned person. His fears of what that room held were stronger than his urge to help someone at that moment, and he hated himself for not having the nerve to do what felt right.

Light flashed several times from the room, bringing Sam to an urgent resolution. “We help him.” He studied a circular mechanism below the window, before pulling and rotating the metal bar in the centre. The door clicked, causing mechanisms to shift and hiss within.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

As the heavy door opened, a pulsing sound burst over them, shaking James to his bones and rippling through his clothes. Both Sam and Evan drew their swords, yet James hesitated to bring out his knife.

Consoles and cabinets of electrical equipment covered most sides of the high-ceilinged, white room. A wall partition with a large square hole in its centre stood near the entrance to their right. Through the hole they could see a hanging mechanical device; the source of the powerful pulsations.

The two scientists spun to face them, hands raising at seeing the swords. A technical harness wound around their mud-coloured coveralls, attaching what looked like a portable computer to their chests and backs. Though they seemed fairly protected for whatever purposes, they had no coverings on their heads.

“No sudden movements,” Sam said, raising his voice over the vibrating machine.

“What’s going on here?” The scientist closest to them had a deep, thickly accented voice that sounded very foreign. His wide-jawed face was tanned, although not red enough to be a Canarrian.

“That would be our question.” Sam gestured to the table with the imprisoned man.

“You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?” the foreign scientist warned.

The second scientist, a grey-scaled alien with a narrow head and large yellow eyes, edged toward a counter. The metallic sheen of their coveralls shimmered as he moved.

“Hold it there,” Sam called to him.

The scaled scientist spoke sharply in a coarse voice, his protruding mouth snapping like a beak. “We have no time for this, Charles.”

“Let me handle this.” The first scientist caught himself before he said his colleague’s name. “Just tell me what it is you want,” he said to Sam.

“How’s about turning off that machine for starters. I’ve got a terrible headache.”

“That cannot be done,” the foreign scientist said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Evan called out, “I suggest you listen to those with the swords.”

“I’m sure that is wise advice, but his machine cannot be turned off before its cycle is complete.”

The throbbing energy around the room grew louder, causing the scaled scientist to become agitated and shift on the spot.

“Watch them.” Sam sheathed his sword and stepping to the table.

James now had a good look at the imprisoned man. He was much larger than James had originally thought; a muscled giant of a man with dark skin, his only clothing a worn pair of faded shorts. Several clear tubes connected from his arms and torso to the machine hanging above him, where a white light pulsed lazily from a funnel. Dozens of smaller cables and wires connected to four silver canisters on the far side of the table. The man’s large chest heaved with his steady breaths.

Sam hesitated by the table. He unslung his satchel and dropped it against the wall, then moved to a wall terminal that had tubing connected to the ceiling machine.

The foreign scientist called out a warning but it was too late, the scaled scientist moved before James or Evan could react. He pulled a lever on a side console, and a mechanical alarm immediately sprung to life. The light emanating from the ceiling machine brightened and filled the room, temporarily blocking James’s view.

When his vision cleared, James saw the two scientists were against the back wall, typing frantically on a door keypad. He took an instinctual step toward them but a commotion drew his attention elsewhere.

The man on the table was convulsing. The tubes attached to him were now filling with a muddy red liquid. A strong whistling sound released from the canisters. The man’s heavy grunts could be heard between the sirens of the alarm. A powerful arm swung out and sent a metal cabinet flying across the room. As the scaled scientist ran out through the back door, the cabinet collided with the foreign scientist before he could escape. Tubes and cables ripped from their sockets and whirled as the captive man thrashed about, appearing to grow in front of their eyes. It was difficult to see at first, but James saw he was growing, somehow; his muscles bulging and tensing, his back arching up.

Sam drew his sword and stepped back, nearing the partition.

All eyes rose as the man, now triple his original size, heaved himself up. He faltered and turned wildly as if awaking from a deep sleep, the table crumbling like foil beneath his new weight. His skin had become a cracked rock texture, giving him the appearance of a walking mountain. Small, bloodshot eyes looked over the newcomers, his mouth spitting foamy froth as a low growl passed his split lips. The hulking, huffing, giant of a beast now gave no hint of the man it had once been.

Sam, James and Evan exchanged looks for a decision, but the giant beast of a man made the first move. A huge fist swung down at Sam, who jumped back and dove through the partition hole. The fist crashed into the wall as Sam cleared it, smashing it into crumbling pieces. Off balance from its own force, the beast spun and right itself, before charging at James and Evan in a blind rage.

Terror-stricken for an instant, James dove under the immense arm, feeling the rush of wind over his head. Evan recovered from his own dive and now stood with his sword raised. The beast stumbled off balance again and became tangled in the spinning cables still attached to it. When it landed on a bank of monitors in an explosive heap, a flailing hand crushed a wall device that caused the pounding alarm to stop.

A dull ringing remained in James’s ears. The knife given to him by Sam was now gripped in his hand, though it gave him little security.

The beast crawled away from the decimated monitors, huffing and grunting, debris falling from its mountainous back. Beady black eyes fell on Evan as the beast charged at him. One large stride and it was upon the Voarn, falling onto him before Evan could jump clear. He took the full weight of the massive bulk as it lay hunched over, obscuring him from view.

Sam darted forward and plunged his sword into the beast’s side. The monstrous brute roared and jerked away from the retreating sword, heavy purple blood flowing from the seeping wound. Relief rippled through James when he saw that Evan had managed to place his sword between him and the beast. His great sword released from the beast’s stomach in a bloody extraction, spilling the purple blood over Evan.

The beast rolled and recovered while Sam helped Evan to his feet, checking him over. James took half a step forward, eager to help, yet remained frozen with fear and helplessness. He wanted to stop this fighting, but he could tell that this raging, mindless beast wouldn’t be much for conversation or diplomacy. Whatever had happened to it, seemed to have stripped it of any humanity he once had.

Thick rivulets of blood pouring from the beast’s wounds, yet it appeared indifferent to the pain. The purple blood had a pungent odour to it that filled the room, reminding James of a blocked sewer pipe. The beast’s massive chest heaved as it assessed them, small eyes squinting with what could have been curiosity.

“It’s going to take a lot more to take this down,” Sam said to no one in particular.

“I will go for its eyes,” Evan declared in a hoarse voice.

Sam called out as he advanced on the beast. “Stand your ground, James. Only strike if you have a clear shot.”

James remained in place, leaving the fighters to attack. He tightened his sweaty grip on the knife and wondered if he could use it if he had to, and if it would do any good.

A powerful roar shook the room as the hulking beast threw its arms out, the attached cables swinging in its wake. Its mouth frothed with bile, building through the palpable mist of its breath. It took a massive step forward reached for Sam. The soldier ducked and side-stepped in one swift motion, slicing a line through the beast’s side. He ducked under another searching arm before managing two more strikes across its back as he spun around the great bulk.

James marvelled at the agility of his colleague, who was now a far cry from the man he thought he’d been.

Evan leapt high and struck the beast across its neck in mid-air, before landing and diving under a searching arm. Sam darted toward it from the rear, though a ferocious backhand met him, sending him across the room like a ragdoll. He landed with a crash that knocked his head against the wall and he settled in a motionless heap.

The sight froze James. “Sam!”

Evan cried out and charged at the beast. He ducked under an arm and leapt into the air, managing to land on its great shoulders as the beast turned. He dodged searching hands, manoeuvring himself between the bulging shoulder blades. The colossus rocked and heaved, turning wildly. Evan tried to raise his sword for a deadly blow, but a searching hand collided with the blade and sent it spinning across the room. It allowed Evan a two-handed grip on the beast, at least.

James watched with growing frustration at his inability to help. He couldn’t reach Sam from his position and had no way of helping Evan. Searching the room, his eyes fixed on the hanging machine, which was now almost above the beast. He looked from his position to the machine and mapped out a plan of movement.

Hesitating for a final second, James sprinted forward, adrenalin moving him alongside the staggering beast with a clear head. He climbed onto a cabinet that creaked under his weight, using the shelves as rungs of a ladder, before stepping onto a protruding wall terminal and clambering up onto a taller unit.

Now within reaching distance of the hanging machine, a good fifteen feet up, James leaned forward and braced a hand against a ceiling beam to hold himself out, the knife in his other hand. A quick study of the upper side of the machine showed it was held by three thick cables, positioned in a triangular formation, along with dozens of coloured wires.

“Evan!” James called out, his voice breaking with the sudden force. “Bring him under the machine.”

When Evan turned to James’s position, a searching hand caught him and large fingers wrapped around his head. The beast swung its arm, hurtling Evan into the wall a few feet away as easily as throwing a ball of paper. The wall erupted in a cloud of rubble and dirt as the Voarn embedded the concrete. He remained in the large crevice, lying upside down, and showed no signs of movement.

James’s body weakened with fear, now faced with the great beast alone. He darted a look in Sam’s direction, seeing the soldier remained unconscious.

The panting beast turned and regarded its remaining victim. Bare feet crunched on broken glass and debris when it stepped nearer. Heavy breaths sent smoky puffs in the air. It stopped before the machine, head tilting with what looked like a curious frown. James watched the beast, stunned, realising it was smart enough to know what a trap looked like. He thought desperately for another plan, but fear froze his mind as well as his body.

Crumbling sounds brought his attention to the hole in the wall. Evan was now, somehow, on his feet, covered in dust and rubble, emerging like a ghost from the wall.

“Beast!” Evan roared with exhaustion.

The beast turned at the sound, and James watched on in astonishment at the scene before him.

The Voarn gathered his arms in wide arcs, cutting through the air with controlled movements. Though he was clearly weakened, there was a strength and focus in his gestures. Evan brought his hands together and then around him again in spinning motions. Gusts of wind formed before him, swirling in a hazy blue energy.

With a step that carried more than his full weight, Evan threw his arms forward and sent out a burst of wind in shimmering waves. The force collided with the beast and enveloped it in a torrential storm that pushed it backward. Thunder and lightning rumbled and crackled as the room darkened, the wind growing thicker and stronger, apparatus and detritus flying in the swirling vortex.

James braced himself from his high position, both arms pressed against the wooden beam over the machine. The beast staggered one way, then another, and James realised there was a control to the storm. The wind pushed it back into the path of the hanging machine.

Understanding Evan’s intentions, James immediately began cutting into the nearest cable supporting the machine. He was relieved to find that the cable was hollow, which made his job somewhat easier. Soon he managed to cut through the cable, the force of the knife moving free nearly throwing him off. He immediately started on the next cable. His forearm burned and sweat fell from his brow. He thought of switching hands but it would take too long to adjust his position and make the switch. He needed to just keep going.

The wind continued to howl, though it had diminished considerably now. James spared a glance below. Evan kept his arms moving with a strained expression on his grimy, sweaty face. Two more steps and the beast would be under the machine. James sawed and sawed, quickening his pace as best his could. His fingers throbbed and cramped, threatening to drop the knife at any moment.

“Come on!” he screamed without realising.

The second cable finally snapped and the machine jolted, tilting with the support fully on the far side now. But it remained in place.

The beast was directly under him now.

Evan shifted his hands and managed to hold the great hulk in place, though it fought against the wind and managed a few steps before being pushed back into place.

James stretched outwards, but the knife barely reached the furthest cable. The wind had lost its blue hue and now pulsed, shifting in waves that knocked the beast around. It looked as if Evan was throwing great punches of wind at the beast, who fought back as best it could with increasing frustration.

Not knowing what else to do, he lunged off the unit and grabbed onto the machine with all his strength, locking his legs around the sides. The machine pitched and swayed, though the remaining cable held strong. Pulling himself closer, James began sawing furiously at the cable.

The beast growled below, fiercer than the pounding of the wind punches, and James knew he was out of time. He rocked and kicked at the machine, pushing his weight down as much as he could, but the cable still held strong. His frustration gave him strength and he continued to push and shift the heavy machine, hacking at the cable with exasperated grunts.

Evan staggered and fell to a knee, but managed to throw a backhand out to hit the beast with another blast of air. It now took all the Voarn’s energy to lift an arm.

James was halfway through the last cable when it snapped. A great jolt took his breath away as the machine finally released. Falling with a great force, the machine crashed into the beast in a bloody collision. James threw himself back before he could become tangled in the bloody mess, fatigue consuming his whole body as he rolled away from the chaos.

Evan collapsed to the ground.

The room spun for James. He lay there for a moment before his eyes focused and he lifted his head, surveying the room through the hazy air. The machine had crushed the chest of the beast, whose bloodied body lay twisted under the weight.

Evan breathed heavily and spat, hunched over his knees now. Sam, however, remained motionless by the wall. The sight of Sam brought new strength to James, and he rushed over to him.

Sam’s chin rested on his chest, which showed no signs of breathing. James lifted his head carefully, taking a wrist in his other hand and feeling for a pulse. A dreaded few seconds went by. Sam’s name passed James’s lips in a desperate whisper.

When a slow motion of his head showed Sam was conscious, James’s whole body flooded with relief.

A soft gasp left Sam as his eyes opened, eventually focussing on James. “We won?” his voice was weak yet somehow playful.

“Aye.” James’s entire face was a smile. He squeezed Sam’s shoulder.

Movement came from behind them as Evan staggered to his feet.

“Help me… up,” Sam breathed.

With an effort, James pulled Sam to his feet, finding him a lot heavier than he looked. Sam clutched his left side as a spasm of pain keeled him over. James wondered if the beast had cracked a few of his ribs.

Evan collected his sword with slow, careful movements, dust and debris falling from him.

The room had been devastated. So much had happened in such a short time. James was still trying to take everything in.

“Evan?” Sam called to the approaching Voarn, who was stepping around the bloodied body of the fallen beast.

“We are victorious,” Evan said, attempting a smile, though his face was covered in dirt and contorted in pain. His left shoulder was torn and bloodied, and James noticed a slight limp in his step.

“It appears we are.” Sam looking from the beast to Evan, and then to James with a questioning look.

Evan said, “James proved quite capable, I must say. I may have been wrong about you after all, James Island. That was quite a feat.” His cat-like eyes held James closely, with a firm look that could have shown respect.

James swallowed before finding his voice. “I weren’t the one that just conjured up a small storm. That was incredible.”

Evan gave a slight nod. His face hardened as he turned away, appearing ashamed of his actions. It reminded James of the regretful expression he’d made after defeating Rolan.

“I’m sorry I missed it,” Sam said. “Seems like you both made a grand old mess.” A small smile formed into a great grin as he clapped James on the back and nodded to Evan.

James found himself chuckling. He’d never felt more relieved to be alive.

“That we did,” Evan said solemnly, stepping to the corpse. “I wonder though if he was our enemy at all.”

“Aye.” Sam’s tone shifted. “Something foul was certainly afoot here.” He picked up his sword and satchel, grimacing and clutching his side as he added, “Speaking of which. We still have questions to be answered.”

Sam gestured to the downed scientist, whose legs could be seen below the crushed cabinet. They made their way to him.