"How do we stop this third wave from occurring?" Miss Agnos asked once the others had left.
"We think the best thing to do will be to track where they have been originating from. Sniffer and the Beast have always been trackers before anything else, so that will be our best option." Kyto said.
"How long do you think it will take you to track them down?"
"No idea. It depends on how far they are."
"Normally, I can track several miles per day depending upon how easy the trail is, and knowing how smelly those things are, they will be easy to track," Tiddles added.
"The beast actually thinks it should be easy due to their stench."
"Once away from the main town and the current overpowering stench," Tiddles added.
"Once we are outside of the town area due to the stench here at present."
"I can assign a force of guard to come with you." Miss Agnos said.
"That would be ideal, knowing how many we have had to face previously. I do not think we could take them alone." Kyto replied.
"Reece."
"Yes, Juniper," Reece replied.
It was the first time Kyto had heard her first name, which suited her.
"Can we have a body of guard ready to accompany Kyto and the beast when they go tracking?" she asked, more as an order than a question.
"I am sure TJ can gather a group to accompany them," Reece said, turning to TJ. TJ nodded in response.
"How many?" Miss Agnos asked.
"With the current injured and number of the guards remaining due to the recent losses, I would advise a group of twenty and no more; otherwise, we will not have enough for the rota in town," Reece replied.
"If we find numbers like we have seen in town, twenty will not do much to help," Kyto said.
"Unfortunately, that is all we can spare from the town guard. We may be able to mass some volunteers, but there are no guarantees, especially considering we must complete repairs and improve our defences against future incursions." Reece replied.
Kyto knew that twenty soldiers would not do much against a swarm of Geblex. Their numbers had been massive.
"We can take twenty, and if their numbers are too great, then we will have to return and await the third wave," TJ said.
"From the details of the third wave statement, if we cannot find the source of the incursion and prevent it, I think the best idea would be to leave town," Kyto said.
"Leave town. We will never let New Talisia fall, especially to such a horrific group of monsters." Miss Agnos said with incredulity.
Although Kyto understood the reason behind her comment, he was not sure it would be the sensible option.
"How long before the guard can be ready to depart?" Miss Agnos asked.
"Two days. We need time to rest. The past 48 hours have exhausted the men, and we still need to deal with the dead before we leave," TJ said.
Miss Agnos nodded, understanding his response, although 48 hours was a long time to wait to begin.
"I think we will start tomorrow and begin. We can always come back depending upon the distance from town, and I cannot see it being too far, considering they only travel at night." Kyto said.
"So we have a start of a plan. Kyto will start tomorrow, and the guard will be ready to depart the day after." Miss Agnos said.
"I will need to speak to Sniffer and get everything sorted. Can we grab supplies before we depart?" Kyto asked.
"Of course. If you see Ashton, he can provide you with any necessary provisions or equipment. He is our quartermaster," Reece said.
"That is good to know. I will get a list and get it to Ashton." Kyto stated.
"I will send Lars with you," TJ said.
"Will he not want to be here for the ceremony?" Kyto asked.
"Lars is Lars. You know him by now. He would be more concerned about ensuring you are safe than worrying about anything else." TJ replied, smiling.
"Well, I will never turn down Lars's support in a fight."
"No one would," TJ said.
Lars was by far the most skilled brawler in the guard. His prowess during the two waves had already earned him a considerable reputation among the guard. None of them had ever seen him fight before the battles, thinking him more of a gentle giant, but once they had, they knew the man was a lethal weapon. His fluidity in combat could not be surpassed by anyone in the township that TJ was aware of, and Reece had already mentioned promoting him to a supervisor's role. Still, Lars had declined, apparently preferring just to be one of the guards. The idiot Callum, who had been the supervisor who had been working for Mr Cooper, was still locked in one of the cells downstairs, and from the brief conversation Kyto had had with TJ, he was likely to be expelled from the township, so they still had a supervisor vacancy to fill.
"I will go and speak to the guards I think are suitable for support," TJ said.
"Of course," Reece replied.
"Good. We all know what needs to be done now, so I will leave it in your hands," Miss Agnos said as she left with her staff.
"Oh, and Kyto," she added.
"Yes. Miss Agnos," he replied.
"When this is all over, and you succeed, which I know you will, there will be a position for you within the town's authority," she stated.
Kyto stood open-mouthed, unsure what to say for several moments. "Erm. Thank you," he eventually replied.
Miss Agnos left them to it, being followed out of the dining hall by her entourage.
"A position on the authority. That is an auspicious honour." Reece said once she had left.
"I thought the authorities were voted into their roles?" Kyto asked.
"Some are, some are inherited, and some are granted. The authority officials are limited to twelve, and since these recent events started, two have been killed during the invasion, and six have left. There are currently only four of us remaining in the township." Reece stated.
"So, you are one?" Kyto asked.
"Yes. As guard captain, I hold the highest security position in the authority. Miss Agnos has been the de facto leader since Cooper left. We have Higgins, the township's quartermaster, and Mikelson, the township's doctor." Reece replied.
"I think I met Mikelson in the hangar earlier, the grey-haired man?"
"Yes. That was him. I saw him earlier singing your praises, although he had no idea how you were doing what you did. He also spoke highly of Miss Elizabeth." Reece replied.
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"To be honest, I have no idea who or what the authority consists of, and until all this is over, I am not sure I even want to consider it," Kyto replied.
"Whatever happens, the honour of being offered a position is not something to sniff at," Reece said, smiling.
"I am honoured to be considered, but I am unsure why. I have only done what anyone in my position would do."
"That is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard," Reece replied, smiling at him. "I do not believe you realise how special you are."
Kyto stood contemplating his reply. He had never considered himself special in any way. It was just the way the System had worked out.
"Reece is right, Kyto. If it were not for you and the lump, we would have lost many more than we did." TJ added.
"I am not a lump. Why do I keep getting called that." Tiddles grumbled.
"At least you are a sweet-smelling lump at the moment," Kyto replied, grinning at him.
"Fuck off," Tiddles growled.
Kyto laughed at his response and then explained what he said to TJ and Reece. Not long after, TJ asked one of the guards to escort them to the compound where the authority stayed. He had never been there, so he had no idea where they needed to go. Reece said he would call in on them later that day once they had had a chance to rest.
The compound was situated at the Southern end of the town. It was an internally fenced area with its own security detail. On approaching the entrance to the site, they were stopped and challenged by the guard. The guards were dressed in pristine, although different uniforms compared to the regular guards, and they looked at Kyto with disgust at his attire. His dress was practical and not affluent, and he did not wear authority clothes. That was until Tiddles had bounded over from where he had stopped en route to complete his ablutions. On the sight of the beast, the two guards, in the simplest terms, had shit themselves, never seeing him before. It appeared that these guards had not been involved with the invasion and were purely security for the compound to prevent anyone entering who did not have reason to.
The compound stood behind a twelve-foot-tall mini stockade, preventing those outside from looking in. Once they were allowed inside, Kyto was amazed at what he was presented with. It consisted of a single road that curved down to the waterfront to the east, and along each side of the road were some of the most luxurious houses Kyto had ever seen. A separate woodland area surrounded the backs of the properties, and they all stood back from the road by long driveways. The houses themselves seemed to have been built after the falling, and on looking at them, they consisted of several different building styles brought into one location. It was as though the people who lived here previously had decided what type of property they wanted and had it explicitly constructed. Kyto knew several had worked in construction since he had been in the town, as he had overheard conversations in the Broken Tap from builders working on their next projects.
The guard who had escorted them had not been allowed inside, and from a separate guardhouse just inside the gate, a member of the compound guard had shown them down to the property they had been assigned. The building was near the end of the road and was a three-storey building. It looked like a large original house that had, over time, had a second and third floor built onto it. The materials were different, with the original being stone and brick, the second-storey brick and then the third floor appeared to be made from wood. It was beautifully designed, and its architecture seemed to merge with the surrounding woodland. How it melded with its design was strange, but it appeared to fit perfectly.
The guard left Kyto and the beast once he had directed them to the right house, and Kyto walked up to the main front double doors. He could not hear any voices, so he opened it and walked inside. The entrance hall was a wide, open, planned affair with spacious rooms surrounding it, and Kyto strolled through the rooms looking for the others. He could not see nor hear any of them and, after a quick survey, headed up the wide stairs to the first floor.
Tiddles had not come upstairs after locating the cubs in a vast utility room at the rear of the property. It was larger than the double garage at the house they had been living in out of town and had areas for washing and drying clothing as well as storage cupboards galore.
This floor had a large balcony overlooking the entrance hall. There were eight rooms from looking at the doorways heading off of it. Kyto walked to the closest door and knocked. There was a groan and a grunt, and Brandon's voice replied.
"Yeah. Who is it?"
"Kyto. Do you know where Tabs is?" he asked.
"She took a room on the next floor, looking out over the back," he replied.
"Thanks," he called and headed up the next set of stairs, spiralling upwards from the top of the first set. This floor only had three doors off it, and Kyto went to the first one and tried the door. The door opened inwards, and he walked into a large room with a massive bed. He saw a sleeping form wrapped up under a blanket. The room was in darkness, with the drapes pulled across the windows. He quietly closed the door and made his way over to the bed. He silently got undressed and could not wait to climb into bed and close his eyes. He could see the form of Tabs sprawled across the bed at an angle and gently squeezed himself next to her.
He placed his arm around her waist, hugging her back before suddenly realising his mistake.
"I think you have the wrong room unless you are swapping sisters," Crystal said in a sleepy voice.
Kyto flew from the bed, stubbing his toe on a small bedside cabinet, hopping and cursing as he cried in pain and then got his free foot tangled up in the clothes he had strewn by the side and went flying, falling face first onto the floor with an almighty bang. "Shit". he cursed loudly.
"So much for a nice peaceful afternoon," Crystal said, sitting in bed and wrapping the blanket around her chest.
"I am so sorry, Crystal. I thought you were Tabs," he replied, still hopping.
At that moment, the door flew open, and Tabs stood with a knife in her hand, coming to see what the loud noise had been coming from the room next door.
"Kyto?" she said in surprise, seeing him half-dressed and hopping, holding his toe in pain. Crystal sat up in the bed.
"I thought it was you," he said through gritted teeth.
"I would not have minded him staying, but his hands were so cold," Crystal replied wickedly.
Kyto was glad the drapes were shut because he knew he was a bright red and could feel his embarrassment clawing at him. He even felt guilty and began to apologise to Tabs. "I am sorry, Tabs, I had no idea, I promise." he blurted out.
Tabs could not help but look at him and burst out laughing. "Do you know how ridiculous you look, hopping, holding your toe, wearing virtually nothing? Especially considering you can heal yourself."
Kyto felt even more embarrassed now, having not even thought to heal himself. He pushed his healing strands to his toe, and the throbbing began to ease almost immediately.
"Do you think I could get some sleep now?" Crystal replied, and although Kyto could not see her face clearly in the dark, he could sense the grin she had on it.
He quickly scooped up his discarded clothes and bolted from the room. Tabs followed him as he stood on the landing, wondering which door it should have been. "That one." she pointed, still chuckling.
Kyto walked over to another door two away and walked inside. This room was even more extensive than the last, and the bed was set back to one side with two desks and closets covering the other walls.
Long drapes covered most of the windows, except one, which let in daylight. He dropped his clothes onto one of the desks and returned to Tabs. "Sorry. I really did not know," he said.
"You are braver than me. I would never have climbed into a bed with Crystal. I am surprised you did not get a black eye." she said, laughing at him.
"It was dark, and I..."
"Shut up, will you? You are very much mistaken if you think that Crystal will go anywhere near you. She knows that no one goes near you apart from me." she cut him off.
Tabs walked up to him and planted a kiss on his lips. His thoughts stopped as her warm lips met his, and his embarrassment and angst were replaced with bliss.
"Now, can we get some rest without the hopping, shouting and banging?" she asked.
They both walked over to the bed and climbed inside. It was not long before Kyto was sound asleep with Tabs curled up in his back.
It was much later that day when he eventually aroused. Tabs was sitting at one of the desks and was brushing her hair with what must have been a previous tenant's hairbrush, as she did not own one herself. Crystal had a comb, but this was a fancy brush. She had pulled the drapes back, and the view from the window was out over the lakeside following a rolling garden down to a private dock area. "I wonder who used to live here?" Kyto said.
"Hey, sleepy head. This was Cooper's place. It seemed only fitting that we took this one." she replied, smiling.
"Oh, you got to choose?" he asked.
"Yep. Once we arrived, we were offered empty homes to stay in, but it was strongly suggested that we might like this one the best. The next house is Miss Agnos's, and Reece is over the street." she said.
"This place is like its own mini village," he replied.
"It is nothing like anything we have seen before, and the way the buildings have been built as well, they are all unique but fit into the surroundings."
"I wonder how long they have been here."
"Miss Agnos's helper said that most of the authority have been here for at least two generations now."
"That is a long time, and to consider the town is just over the stockade and how cramped the housing is in comparison."
"I know it does not seem fair. Then again, normally, there are not as many in town as there are currently as many of them live in the surrounding areas."
"But still, it is excessive."
"It is, but they have been here a long time, and I suppose there has to be some benefits to being one of the main authorities."
"About that."
"What?"
"Miss Agnos offered me a position on the authority."
"What? She does not even know you."
"I have not accepted. I said I would not consider it until we have tried to sort out the invasion first."
"The house is massive. There are enough rooms for all of us with spare, and on the first floor, there is also a library."
"Really?" Kyto replied excitedly.
"Yes. But you are not allowed in there until this is over. Otherwise, we will not see you for days."
Kyto pouted at Tab's comment. He had not found a new book to read in months, and even though he was Enlightened, he was a tinkerer and free thinker at heart and loved gaining new knowledge.
"We need to go and speak to the others. Tiddles, me, and Sniffer need to go and start tracking the Geblex."
Tab's face turned serious at the comment. "I know you have to, but I am worried about you going."
"We have no choice if we want to try to prevent this third wave from occurring. Anyway, let's go and see the others and get things sorted. I plan on leaving tomorrow to start the search."