Chapter 46

The Prize at the End of the Tunnel

By the time I had finished a morning talk with Clyde and stepped out of the ship I found the Talpas had arrived.

“How was you trip?” I asked, relieved that nothing had happened to them passing through the Nightmare’s territory.

It was the same Talpas I had before. The ones that carved out the arena and underground houses.

“It was fine. Long and boring, as usual. But for you, I have no problem going from coast to coast just for a chat.”

“Thank you,” I smiled. “So you know why you’re here?”

“I think so, but if you can catch us up I’d be happy to see how we could best be of assistance.”

I took him inside and we discussed matters in more a secret area, in front of the rest of the clan.

We walked in, my clan of Xenos were busy eating and getting things ready for a fight. Though none of us knew what to expect.

I introduced the Talpas. My clan was glad to officially meet them, and now as our expeditionary guides through the underground of Xenobia.

I noticed someone small look around the corner, make a disgusted sound and walk away. A Dryad?

They normally don’t come up here and I haven’t seen them in a few weeks. I followed him quickly and asked him what he wants.

“I just wanted to tell you something but you looked quite busy.” He said, giving a disgusted look. “Then I saw the Talpas and left.”

“That’s fine, then tell me, what do you need?”

“We don’t need anything. It’s just that we found something that you might be interested in.”

I nudged him to keep talking.

“Well, I did some investigating as it’s been quite boring here, taking care of the plants and feeding everyone. I know it’s important, but I just felt like getting out a little. Then I found this tunnel in one of the rooms and thought I thought it smelled horrifically like Talpas I went ahead and ventured down into the dark tunnels. I found a big arena, it was cool, so I looked around and I could smell some fresh air coming in for somewhere. Oh, how I needed some fresh air. So I climbed up and found myself in a park. It was a nice day so I quickly ran up to one of the Hamadryads and climbed up, keeping myself hidden. You know how people are, they’ve never seen us, so I try to keep hidden.”

“Well, if that’s all you’ve done and you didn’t get caught then that’s fine.” I said. “I was trying to get you guys out for some fresh air eventually.”

“But that’s not it,” he said. “I talked to the Hamadryad and, since I know why we’re here I asked her about any Ancients in the city that she knows of. So she told me. She said there was an old story from nearly the beginning of Xenobia city, from the first Hamadryad that was planted. She saw the Ancient firsthand, saw him walking around at night, planning and scheming, then years later came back and crawled underground, but was never seen again.”

“That’s all?” I asked. “There wasn’t more to the story? Like what he looks like, what kind of teeth he’s got?”

“Well, not really. I guess she said he looked like a sort of spider. And he went underground.”

“That does help,” I said. “That helps a lot.”

I was about to send him away and get back to business with the Talpas, but I had nearly forgotten that half of my army is Dryad.

“Don’t think I haven’t forgotten about you,” I told him. “We’re going into find the Nightmare right now. We’ll need your help, all of you.”

“Seriously?” He said, getting excited. “Let me grab them.” And he ran back to the inside greenhouse.

I walked back to the main room and started briefing everyone there.

“Thanks to Clyde, we’ve found out where the Nightmare lives. It’s a bit long to explain how so I’ll save the details for another day.” I showed a screen of Xenobia city’s underground, the same one Clyde had showed me.

“This is where we are headed.” I pointed to the circle beneath Xenobia tower. “We will scout around for his frequencies using the Talpas to maneuver us through the underground and Clyde to tell me the frequencies, pinpointing his lair precisely. And if it all goes well we’ll find him today.”

There were a few questions, “How do you know that none of us will be picked up and used against the Nightmare against you?” One of the Talpas asked.

“Simple, we all have a device that nullifies his frequency.”

“How will we breathe and see?” Farrow asked.

The Talpas all rolled their eyes in unison.

“That is a good question,” I said. “Nancy and John, I’ll need you to go out and buy a handful of flashlights for us, batteries, and a supply of oxygen respirators in case anyone gets lightheaded.”

“Ten-four,” John said and ran out the door, Nancy on his tail.

“Then that gives us an hour to prepare. Any other questions?”

I went over it in my head. Lights and oxygen, check. Shovels, ammo, guns, poison, radios? I’ll have to get radios as well, I think I might have some in the ship. Shovels are taken care of, the Talpas will dig while we split into four teams, one Talpa per group.

Weapons and ammo were taken care of. Poison would have to wait for another day, though I wish I knew anything about the Nightmare. He’s a spider. Maybe a serum for spider bites. Good idea, “Farrow, find us some antidotes for spider bites, any kind and as many as you can get. Minimally one for each of us.”

He nearly flew out the door.

I went out to collect the radios from Clyde’s ship.

“Clyde? What do you think, am I missing anything?”

“I think you’ve got it all under control perfectly well, I could think of a few relatively low probabilities, but your planning is very precise. I could suggest, to speed up locating him, is to give each group a device to measure the waves, like a radio. I could hook up to them from down there.”

“You can get my readings even that far underneath the ground?”

“Surprisingly yes. So, take those radio and give on to each group, I should be able to pick up from it what’s being received.”

“Can you test it out?” I asked.

A few moments later. “Good call, I’ll have to do some minor adjustments, give them to me in the cockpit.”

I did so and I saw what I haven’t seen in nearly a year. Clyde.

He was the same beat up robot I had put in there so long ago. His appendages moved slowly.

“I need oil. Grab me some from the maintenance cabinet please, and a tool box.”

After oiling his joints and gears he seemed to work just fine, spinning his hands and tools. I gave him the radios one by one and he made slight adjustments to each one, opening them up inside and turning a few things, soldering a wire or two.

“These should be able to give and receive com while telling me what I need to know.”

“Good job. I think I’m all set. John should be back soon with the rest of the items.”

“Good luck, I’ll be watching from here.”

“You can’t save me.” I said.

“I don’t need to,” he replied. That was all he needed to say.

I almost cried. I was almost used to Clyde being my back up, he wasn’t though, just a robot with a genius mind, ability to hack and control my surroundings, when possible. I’d say I’ll miss him, but I won’t, because he’ll be right here where I left him.

And I’ll be back.

———

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

The scouting started.

I lead a group of Dryads with Bandera. John and Nancy also had a group each to themselves, and so did Farrow.

Roland had to stay above ground, sitting leisurely in headquarters, though he did say it was the worst set up imaginable. He couldn’t blame me, he had even tried, but he wouldn’t fit inside the Talpa’s tunnels. According to Roland, this error in planning, though unable to plan against, was what was going to make this impossible, in any circumstance, for us to win. There was no Equine on our team, he was on the bench. I did give him a radio so he could listen in on what’s happening.

We marched through existing tunnels while to my side one team split off, then another, and another.

Clyde had given us a general plan of attack to locating precisely where the Nightmare was. If he was there at all.

After ten minutes Clyde instructed us to dig downwards and north. Another ten minutes and he had sent me a good picture of the underground tunnels and a very small circle showing his location.

He then instructed us to move inwards and try to find a door.

Somehow I thought planning this was incredible. There probably wasn’t a door. I’d either have to go back and find some explosives or think this through when I get there.

“Nancy, head south and up forty five degrees. Farrow south east, stay level” We’re converging in on his lair.

A few more minutes of trudging through tunnels. We hit concrete. The rest of them did as well.

Well, something a conventional Huntress from the village doesn’t always have. I had one. I told everyone to get back fifty steps, took out a grenade from my hip pocket and timed it for thirty seconds. Placing it at the edge of the concrete and packing it in with some solid dirt, I set it and ran.

Thirty seconds later I had a door to the Nightmare’s lair.

I thought momentarily if I could direct the other to this location.

Clyde, tell the others how to come here. I don’t know how else they’d get in.

Another moment later Clyde started spitting out instruction for each group to maneuver to me while I watched enlarged spiders and rats spill down the tunnel in my direction.

“Farrow, down two feet and south by 183.78 degrees. John, east 49.853 degrees. ”

The dryads started pushing up in front of me and towards the infestation. “Don’t worry Huntress, they can’t bite this bark!” They pulled out their swords and shields, three could line the front guard while slashing and beating the spiders back. The next row took the leftovers.

I took out my gun but held it ready in case something went wrong. I didn’t want to risk shooting a Dryad.

The Dryads hacked and slashed. It looked easy enough with the three of them working in unison, keeping the forefront of creatures at bay. But the exertion was obviously tiring them out.

A few had made it past them, and despite a shriek from our team, someone lunged forward with a shovel, another Dryad behind. No casualties would be taken here.

We weren’t making much forward progress, and I didn’t know how many spiders and rats were in there. Actually after a minute we were being pushed back by the gnashing rats and ticking spiders. But, like solidified goo, the dead clogged the entrance.

I could only hear it, but the other groups converged on my tunnel, but in front of me. I heard their gasps and attempted retreats. “Dawn, there’s rats and spiders the size of an Ursine’s head!”

I replied, “I know. Send the Dryads out in front. They’ll take care of them until we figure something out. I have no way of judging how many are in there.”

I heard their compliance.

My Talpas made it to me. “May I suggest something?”

I nodded.

“I can dig a shaft underneath the blockage. This would allow the space to clear out.”

“Sound fine. But how would we get past?”

“I have a plan but I’ll work it over while I commence the shaft digging.”

He vanished to the side and a minute later the obstruction vanish as well, downwards. He must have told the other Talpas, their tunnels cleared up as well.

“So what do we do now?” I asked the Talpa as he climbed back into my tunnel.

“We’ll begin with side bypasses, then open it up for a bigger space. I figure if you have any more of those explosives on you we could send it down one of those holes to prevent any live ones making it back up.”

“That makes sense. Flush them down and wipe them out. But I don’t have any more explosives.”

“I do.” Bandera said.

That made sense. I wasn’t used to her being around on these types of missions.

“Start.” I told the Talpa.

The battle continued. More Dryads fought them off now that the rats and spider were climbing back up through the holes, around them and on the ceiling. Another two Dryads pushed them back down the hole. Other Dryads came to replace the exhausted ones, and oxygen masks were passed around.

But the flood continued.

The Talpas had quickly reconstructed our tunnels. We now had plenty of space to fight. Now all the Dryads were spread out fighting, I’d have to get in there soon if the flood doesn’t stop.

Farrow was brandishing a wooden Dryad sword. John and Nancy each had one themselves, but Nancy was hiding behind John while he fired excessive rounds at each spider or rat that got through the Dryad’s defense.

It was unbelievable, there was no stop.

The Talpas continued to dig, two making our tunnels wider, giving us more space while another two had been seen going down to make the pit bigger.

I was curious how they didn’t get bitten by the enemies.

The Talpas emerged and converged on me, ready for the next plan of action.

“It would be impeccable timing to send an explosive down to handle the lot in the pit now.”

“Bandera? Would you do the honors.”

She casually walked over and set a grenade for ten seconds, throwing it down the chute.

I heard the explosion. I waited, another minute later the swarm had decreased and, looking to the inlet, there were hardly any giant pests coming out, just a trickle of water.

“Everyone inside!” I shouted and lead them into the Nightmare’s lair.

Clyde, can you give me a new map? I need a closer look. Maybe we can send the groups in different directions to map this place out.

Bandera has a mapper.

“You have a mapper?” I asked her like I knew what it was.

“Good idea,” she said pulling something out of her pocket. She activated it and it flew upwards, centered itself and went off down a tunnel of concrete.

And just a few seconds later my map had begun to expand in detail. I began to see the little maze begin to make sense.

We waited for another few minutes to make any decision. I could split up the four groups again, but thought better of it. I wouldn’t know what we may run into this time.

The concrete sewers were now fully analyzed. There were a few dead ends, or cutoffs where Bandera had instructed the mapper to come back and track closer to us.

Clyde, what do you think is our best option?

I looked at the map, it was just tunnels. Nothing that indicates a room or hideout for an Ancient type of creature.

Try here.

A small red dot appeared in one of the tunnels to the right.

Why? What makes that so special?

It looks like a door. I have a good eye for detail. Something you would have missed no matter how hard you looked for it on the little map you have.

Thanks.

I lead our team off to the right, wading knee deep through sewage and rain water.

Making it to the red dot on my map I did find a door of some sort, not really a door but a rusted steel grate.

I couldn’t see much inside, but I went ahead and started to open up the grate using a laser cutter.

I was stopped. Bandera’s hand rested on my shoulder. I sensed something was wrong. Quietly I turned to look at her, behind her, behind the whole clan was a person. Then another and another, slowly walking through the tunnels to stop and stare at us.

I hardly would have though anything of it, a handful of unarmed humans and Xenos, somewhat zombified, but there were tons of them. They didn’t attack, not yet.

I felt a shudder, not mine nor Bandera’s. The air distorted. “Time’s ticking,” an ominous deep voice called. “Dawn, make your move.”

After what felt like a millennia, I was finally pulled back by a movement behind the grate, a long and slim piece of chrome glinted in the light.

It wasn’t just a piece of metal, that was a leg of a giant spider. A few more legs moved, confirming my sudden apprehension.

I went back to cutting my grate open.

A deep and over exaggeratedly bored sigh echoed through the tunnels. “Well played.” The Nightmare said. “I hope you came prepared. I always enjoy a good game.”

The zombies attacked.

The Dryads moved out in front to hack and slash. Bandera shot expertly above their head stunning more. Farrow sent a few shots. John fumbled with his gun and managed to get it kicked aside by a spinning Dryad finalizing a combo attack.

A second later I had the grate open and threw it aside. I entered. Leaving the chaos behind, entering the unknown, the Nightmare.

I unwillingly took a deep breath, expecting the worse. My light shone in but I left it outside, I didn’t need it in the dark.

I looked up, the Nightmare, his legs raising him up ten feet in the air. All I saw up there was a chrome-plated spider’s abdomen.

I stood ready.

He lowered himself down in front of a table.

From here I could see he wasn’t just a spider. Like a Centaur, he had a human torso but plated in chrome, contoured to configure a muscled warrior. And on top, two arms and a shiny helmet, four red beady eyes shone through, two big black ones in the middle, and multiple horns crowning the top.

“Sit down.” He said, motioning towards the table where a seat was positioned to face him.

I wouldn’t have done it. Knowing how these villains play. Talk, talk, talk, trying to persuade to join them, bargain a price of freedom before the inevitable fight. He’s acting like he has no doubt of the out come. But I found myself sitting there, his inflection and power of command found me obliging.

“Take a look.” His voice wasn’t in my head anymore. A little softer and more human, the voice of the Noghtmare in front of me.

At the table was chess board. Pieces were spread around as if in the middle of a game. Who’s game, I don’t know.

“Did you notice?” he asked me. “I’m in check.”

I hadn’t noticed, but now I did see it.

“But, it you take a closer look, you are nearly immobilized. Hard to get out of that one isn’t it?” He moved his hands around, “But congratulations, you made it this far.”

He gestured to the grate I had come through, a Bovine stood there. His other hand moved to the board. “Is it going to be the rook, or the knight?” He moved his hand over the two. “Maybe the bishop. Hell, even the King can bite if prompted.”

“Enough of the games.” I said.

“Games? Isn’t it all that this is?”

“You’ve killed too many, possessed the most dangerous beasts and nearly wiped out my species.”

“That’s what they were here for wasn’t it?”

“You’ve killed my King, set fire to my village, holding some hostage and killing a few hundred while the rest suffer from a thousands year old home now gone. You loaded Genres with ammo and guns, profiting from it all while he does it, and killing even more. You’ve gotten Caine to—”

“Caine? He isn’t one of mine.”

“Than why were the Ancients backed up by an army of Armed Canines? That’s all yours, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t get them to do all of that. I held the pawns, the ones working for him, my well placed infantry, your Ancients were mine.”

“You made it happen!”

“Maybe I did. But it wasn’t me. They had to make their own choices. Caine loves power, he did that on his own. Finding in the Ancients a good bargain for him and his pups to walk free and in power with them. Genres was already selling guns. What more do have that you think I’ve done. I’ve just been playing the game. A rook is a rook, a knight is a knight. They guard the castle and slay the dragons, all in the right name of the game.”

“That’s enough!” I screamed. I shot the Bovine at the door, flipping out of the chair, giving him another shot while he was down.

I jumped up as far as I could and Ungu sliced through a chrome leg, I jumped to another, slicing through it too. The Nighmare began to wobble.

I jumped once more but missed the landing in time for two Ursine to grab me and wrangle me back to the chair.

The Nightmare seemed calm, though his arms crossed like a father in front of a disobedient child. “Tsk-tsk, you almost had me. But woe, the misfortune of a misplayed check. I’m afraid the tables have turned young Huntress.” He spread his arms, a chrome trident had appeared as if thrown to him. “Check.” He level the trident at my chest. “Mate.” The trident sped at me, faster than I could see.

And then I couldn’t.