Betrayals
This rapid series of events had completely flustered Gregor. First, the massive water spray had knocked the assembled troops into disarray, and then the Depth Wyrm itself was revealed causing another wave, except made of panic, this time.
The once noble creature had been twisted beyond reckoning, with layers of teeth that extended onwards until they sprouted from outside of the Abomination’s lips, before continuing down its body in random patches like barbs.
Gregor was just standing there, befuddled by the sight, when the Abomination roared. Whatever the noise was, Gregor could determine it had some Divinity behind it, mostly because the entire Legion fell to the ground, unconscious.
All except for three people, that is. Gregor himself was unaffected by the attack, most likely due to the unusual blending of his body and Spark. Then, both the Major and sole surviving Captain had remained untouched, as well. Looking over to them, he saw bloody murder on Captain Frear’s face. Which made her utterly calm voice that much more chilling.
“You’ll pay for that, you slimy bastard.”
“Oh, I imagine I will, but not here, and not today. I mean just look around at all the defenseless recruits here that would die, if you and I were to clash seriously. Instead, I thought of a proposition ahead of time, because I believed you might just survive, Reena.”
“Let me and my agent take the boy, Gregor, and I’ll leave you to handle that Abomination. You’ll still likely lose a few Legionnaires, but you have no better alternatives.”
The Captain looked like she wanted to bite his head off, but managed to restrain herself. Barely. Instead she just snarled back at Micah.
“What if I’m willing to let their deaths stain my hands? What if I kill Gregor, instead of letting you have him?”
The Major laughed heartily before responding.
“The old you may have done that Reena, but we both know that you haven’t been that person in years.”
Then, sick of being talked about like he wasn’t there, Gregor spoke up.
“I am right here, and I’m not defenseless.”
The Major shot Gregor a signature cockeyed grin, while the Captain gave him a side eye and a question.
“Do you think you can handle the Depth Wyrm?”
Gregor gulped as he looked at the goliath Abomination that was dominating the docks, even if it was being surprisingly docile after its thunderous roar.
“I can try.”
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“I can try.”
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Logan heard Gregor profess his intent to fight the sea dragon, he knew he should change his plans and assist the young man. That was probably the best way to keep everyone, including Amar, safe.
Just as Logan was opening his eyes, he then heard something else that shocked him.
“Did you think that I would just sit back quietly and watch you attempt to subdue the Abomination? Well, I… will do just that. But my agent won’t, she’s here to make things a bit more difficult for you.”
“Oho, can you not afford to take action either, well that… Recruit Lexie, how frustrating.”
As Logan finally opened his eyes and took in the scene around him. With shock, he saw Lexie running back out onto the docks from a side street, making Logan think back to when he heard someone running away initially. It appeared it hadn’t been out of fear, but rather preparation and plotting, instead.
Lexie was a traitor, same as Major Micah. There was no other explanation, and although it shocked Logan, now wasn’t the time to think. Instead, he teleported between Lexie and Gregor, making himself an obstacle. He staggered, but managed to hold to his feet.
“Yeah, you’re gonna have to deal with me first. Gregor, kick that dragon’s scaly behind for me, okay?”
Gregor let out a deep laugh, and a smile broke out onto his face. His stance relaxed, just a measure.
“I guess some people are genuinely good. Leave it to me, my friend.”
Then, Gregor began to glow with an inner light. Soon it had moved to the air surrounding him, and then the young man stretched into a tremendous leap at the Depth Wyrm, sailing at it from thirty feet in the air.
That left Logan to face his now former-Squadmate, Lexie. If that was her real name, he supposed.
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“Why are you doing this, Lexie?”
“This was always the plan, Logan. I had thought we were to stay undercover for longer, but the High King’s defeat of Grecia has escalated our timelines. So, we move.”
Logan wanted to ask more, but doubted he would get much out of the apparent spy. Instead, he focused on summoning his Soul Sword, his soul tentacles weaving about in the required patterns.
Then Micah cut in. The former Major didn’t look too upset by Logan’s appearance, instead appearing simply disappointed to be interrupted.
“Ah, one of the anomalies. It breaks my heart, but the possibility was accounted for. Agent L, you may dispose of him.”
With that the fight between the former Squadmates commenced. Lexie’s strengths of course, did not lay in a frontal assault, and the white haired woman faded out of Logan’s vision, rapidly becoming invisible even to Logan’s enhanced Soul Sight.
This is not going to be fun.
Before, Lexie had needed to come out of stealth to attack, but seeing as she was a double agent, Logan doubted this was the extent of her abilities. Instead, Logan tried to buy himself a minimum amount of time to formulate a plan by teleporting to a nearby rooftop.
After popping back into existence across the docks, Logan crouched on his new perch, and tried to rack his brain for a way to beat Lexie that involved more than ‘Swing blindly, and pray’. So far, he wasn’t having any ideas, and praying seemed more and more sensible to Logan.
Then, he heard a tile rustle to his right. Turning, Logan saw the tile partially come loose, and realizing what that must mean, readied his teleport. He was just in time to, as the next time he appeared, Logan had a thin cut on his neck.
Lexie had been so fast to find him, Logan had to assume that regardless of where he showed up, it was just a matter of time for her to find him. But, the brief encounter had given Logan clues on how to beat her, and Logan just needed to piece them out.
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This time, Logan continued to move about, even though it distracted him slightly. He figured his one advantage was his instantaneous movement, so he needed to maximize that Blessing.
It was also Logan’s first serious fight alone with another human. He had caught those bandits, but that had been with Amar and Gregor, and they had easily overpowered their foes. Logan had never experienced the wild thrashing of his heart in his chest
Therefore, five rooftops later, Logan finally figured out how to detect Lexie. Her Divinity masked her from even Logan’s sight, but it didn’t seem to inhibit the other senses. The only problem was Logan didn’t have the sensory power to detect the spy.
Gregor might, but he was off fighting the Depth Wyrm, and Logan didn’t know of any other humans who might. But, Logan was Bonded with a Rizzel, and he was confident Remy could get the job done if Logan could call the little guy here.
Remy! Come here if you can hear me, I need you!
Logan couldn’t tell if the Rizzel had got the message, so he decided to keep teleporting in the direction of the camp while mentally broadcasting his request.
Remy! Remy! Can you hear me!
It wasn’t until Logan made it all the way to the last rooftop at the edge of Langst Harbor that his efforts were rewarded. He had never tested the maximum range of the Bond, and had gotten lucky.
Remy! I need you here in town!
-Okay, Remy is on the way!-