The Topaz Operation Read online

  Tara suddenly landed beside them. “I estimate Laylon city limits at one point two miles. The forest comes to an abrupt halt about a half-mile north of here, replaced by dusty plains. A military installation lies northwest, adjacent to the city.”

  “Excellent, Tara,” said Jyssa.

  Lygalia sat up and rested on the bank. “I don’t think we should keep up this carrying routine going into the city. It’s worked so far but won’t there.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “We find a moderately tall building, tower, or somewhere you can hide me. Then I keep an eye on things from the high ground.”

  “That could work.”

  “Also, Tara should find a new outfit,” said Lygalia.

  Tara looked herself up and down.

  “Do you have ideas on where Mitch would be?” asked Jyssa.

  “If he’s being held prisoner I would steer toward the military base first,” said Lygalia.

  “Right. We could try to link up with Semo.”

  “It didn’t sound to me like he made it,” said Lygalia.

  Jyssa sighed. “Tara, could you hack into the Archon’s system?”

  “Almost certainly,” said Tara.

  * * *

  Jyssa poked her head out of the bushes on the edge of the forest. A street lined with damaged buildings led straight into the city. More importantly, to her left stood an Archon guard tower and checkpoint marking the entrance to the military base. She gripped her pistol tighter. Jyssa’s mini-Gelibor Elite Squad was about to be tested. She stepped out onto concrete and her comm fell out of her pocket, clacking on the ground.

  A floodlight flashed to life directly on her position. Jyssa snatched up her comm and rolled back into the bushes just as two troops ran out from the checkpoint. Mounted flashlights on their rifles shone cones of light around the forest greenery. The bushes ruffled and a pair of raccoons meandered out.

  “Just a couple of animals,” said one troop.

  “Filthy creatures. Roast ‘em,” said the other.

  As they took aim, a soft sound of singing materialized from the forest. Both raccoons lifted up into the air and hovered in front of the troops.

  “What the...,” said a troop.

  The raccoons bore their teeth, hissed, and flew at the troops in a mad frenzy of clawing and biting. The soldiers yelped and recoiled in fright, swinging their rifles in a vain effort to bat the coons away. Out of the darkness, Tara grabbed the heads of both troops and smashed them together, knocking them out. Jyssa heaved a stone at the floodlight, smashing it dark. The two animals floated to the ground and scurried back into the forest.

  Lygalia peeked out from the bushes. “Good work, little friends.”

  Jyssa backed against the tower wall. “Be ready. There’s gotta be more troops here.” Tara stood next to her. Six feet from them a metal stairwell led up to the glass-encased top section of the guard tower.

  Down the stairwell came a soldier running unsuspectingly into Tara’s grip. She picked him up and smashed him against the wall. He slumped to the ground and she commandeered his rifle. “Likely no more combatants except at the top.”

  “Okay, good. I’ll go up first.” Jyssa inched over to the stairwell entrance and glanced up. No enemies in sight. She nodded to Tara and they quietly hopped up the stairs.

  They reached a door at the top and Tara said, “Allow me. I can absorb a blast easier than you, just in case.”

  True enough. “Sure.” Jyssa stood to the side of the door, out of sight, while Tara examined the controls.

  The door swooshed open. Jyssa tensed up.

  An unhelmeted female Archon officer stood there, gawking up at Tara. “A wizbot? Here? Fascinating, though you look pretty banged up. Did you see the creatures out there that attacked our men? I sent Sergeant P-14 but he hasn’t returned.”

  “The sergeant is fine, Lieutenant. He frightened away the creatures. I have been sent here to question prisoners. Where are they being kept?”

  Jyssa couldn’t believe how well Tara was doing.

  The officer waved her hand over the map station, activating a set of lighted depictions of the city. “The governor prefers that type of info classified, but I know the general area. Section III, north side of the city is where many of them are kept. But they aren’t kept long if you know what I mean.”

  “Affirmative.”

  “And they are often moved around, so that location might not be up to date. You’ll have to find a higher-ranking officer than me for concrete info.”

  “Thank you very much, Lieutenant.” Tara, with both hands, grabbed the officer in a choke hold and held tight until she passed out. Tara laid her to the floor.

  Jyssa’s eyes went wide in amazement.

  “She is still alive. She had no other useful information,” said Tara. “She was nice, though, for an Archon officer.”

  “Can you bring Lygalia up here?”

  “Be right back,” said Tara as she sprang out the door.

  Jyssa checked over the control station. It looked useful enough though may require some hacking. Scarcely seconds later, Tara came bounding up the stairs with Lygalia and set her in a chair next to the control station.

  “How’s this for a hiding spot?” said Jyssa.

  “Couldn’t be better,” said Lygalia.

  “We’re heading to Section III. Wish us luck.”

  “Better yet, I’ll see what I can do from here.”

  “Finding us a getaway ship would be stellar,” said Jyssa.

  “Preferably interstellar,” said Tara.

  Lygalia grinned at Jyssa.

  Chapter 38

  Rez staggered across the sand under a torrential downpour. Light-headed and disoriented, confusion swept over him as to where he was or what he was doing. Blood streaked behind him, quickly washed away by the rain yet leaving stains in the sand. Blood seeped down his shirt, through his clothes and onto the ground. Wait—it even dripped from his face? Oh yes, the fight with Jez. Jez struck a blow with his weapon; must have ripped open some skin. The weapon—a Zermal concoction no doubt.

  The sand dunes stretched on endlessly. The sea, scarcely visible through the downpour, roared with violent waves in the distance. Where was the forest? Rez squinted amidst raindrops bouncing off his face. The dark patch far off to his right must be the forest. How far had he wandered?

  Thunder boomed as lightning bolts scattered across the sea’s horizon with a thousand fingers of electricity. Having no cover, Rez could make for the trees, but the ever-muddying sand made traversing anywhere a challenge. His muscles tensed up and aching cramps asserted themselves.

  Rez trudged toward the dark spot on the horizon. After a few minutes, and with seemingly no progress, he collapsed forward into the sand. He pulled his head up to see a three-foot-long sea turtle crawling past him, making more speed than him. Thoroughly soaked, he coughed out a mouthful of rainwater, sand, and blood. Could this be a dream? No—the taste of iron in his blood was too real.

  With a tremendous clash, lightning struck the ground thirty feet away erupting a spray of sand in all directions. Rez’s hands shot over his ears, not that it helped against the sound. The throbbing echoed through his head. In the past he could have controlled such an onslaught of noise. But now...

  His head dropped into the sand. Consciousness faded.

  * * *

  The skies now darker, Rez lifted his head. The rain was lighter though steady. His bleeding had stopped. He rolled onto his back and stared straight up at the heavens. Scattered lightning reached across the skies, sending chills of fright through his bones, though he didn’t have the strength to pull himself up.

  Strangely, inconceivably, he heard the faint sound of...musical notes. He strained his head both directions. No one was near, no wizards—nothing but sand. Lights in the sky—with shape and form, less gangly than lightning—appeared to move together against the grain of the traveling clouds and lightning flashes.

  The music intensif
ied—string instruments, no…voices? Must be leftover rattling in his head from the lightning strike. Old memories perhaps, but he could not recall this tune he was—he thought—he was hearing. It was beautiful beyond words.

  Words. He heard words.

  He closed his eyes. The rain and distant thunder obscured clear hearing, but it was unmistakable. He attuned his ears as best he could and listened. His ears—both ears—absorbed the voices.

  Once again, he fell asleep.

  * * *

  Rez opened his eyes. Sterile, artificial lights emanated dull illumination from the ceiling. He was dry, on a cot...in a ship’s medbay? His head ached and his body shivered, but he otherwise felt fine.

  A man walked over and kneeled next to his cot. “Rez, how you doin’? You got pretty roughed up out there.”

  The voice was familiar. Rez looked over at his older brother’s unshaven face. “Ryle,” he whispered.

  Chapter 39

  Ryle brought Rez a cup of water and checked the bandage on Rez’s forehead Aphiemi had applied earlier. Rez, sitting upright on the cot and resting his back against the wall, gulped the water down without taking a breath. Ryle had a hunch that if and when they found Rez he would be in beat-up condition. Ryle considered rushing back to Chrysolite with his prisoner, especially since Rez was out cold for a while, but he resisted knowing Rez was integral in the hunt for Jez.

  Aphiemi joined them. “How’s our rescuee?”

  “He’s in one piece,” said Ryle.

  “Hello, Aphiemi,” said Rez.

  She nodded in affirmation, not quite ready for a direct conversation. Ryle knew it would take a while for her to warm up to Rez, if ever.

  “I guess I owe you both a thank you,” said Rez.

  “Mostly Ryle,” said Aphiemi.

  The moment lingered in silence for a few seconds. Goosebumps covered the exposed parts of Rez’s arms. “I’m…cold. What ship is this?”

  “The Arrow’s fourth iteration,” said Ryle. “Your people blew up the Arrow III, remember? And we recently took a hit at close range, knocking out the thermosystem.”

  “They’re not my people anymore,” said Rez.

  Ryle smirked over at Aphiemi. Her skepticism oozed through her flat expression.

  “I found Jez,” said Rez.

  “You did? On Jacinth?” said Ryle.

  Rez nodded.

  “How did that go?”

  “Not well.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “He fled with a shipment of diamonds back to Amethyst, I believe.”

  “Great. The one place that’s completely unapproachable,” said Ryle. They couldn’t just sneak into Amethyst this time. He studied Rez’s injuries again—cut on forehead, scrape on shoulder, and other bumps and bruises. “So your encounter with Jez is how you ended up looking like what the pelg dragged in?”

  “Jez is steeped in Zermalism. He has powerful weapons at his disposal. I have weakened in some ways, yet grown more enlightened in others.”

  “So the guy who went head-to-head against Aqtal himself and lived to tell about it got whipped by our little brother. Amazing.” Ryle couldn’t hold back from pointing out the irony. It was too easy.

  “Indeed,” said Rez. “May I have some more water? And if you don’t mind filling me in, what is our current location?”

  Ryle fetched another cup. “We’re cruising through Sector 23 with the engines off, currently just staying off the grid. We needed to talk to you before moving forward.”

  “Does this mean we’re a team?”

  Ryle cracked a grin. “You might say that.”

  “You too have seen some action, brother. How did you get that slice across your cheek? Looks fresh.”

  Ryle glanced at Aphiemi, who cleared her throat and looked away uncomfortably. “Yep, got it in action.”

  Later, after getting a bite to eat, Rez’s energy level rose. He joined them around the main tactical display in the center of the ship. The Arrow, equipped with detailed holographic maps of the solar system, aided Ryle in bringing Rez up to speed on the battles over Topaz and Onyx and the relighting of Mount Anecho. Rez seemed fascinated—but also fearful—at the news of the relighting.

  Rez recounted his hunt for their little brother since leaving Chrysolite. “I have a way of tracking Jez.”

  Ryle did a double-take. “How?”

  “When we fought, I made sure my blood mingled with his. It won’t last forever, but if I meditate and use my skills, I can locate him. Because of Jez’s involvement in Zermalism, his body hardens slower. He still bleeds.”

  “You’ve lost a fair bit of blood too.”

  “Yes, we should make haste to prepare. I’ve already been at work on this since I awoke. I’m certain he’s still on Amethyst now, but I would not recommend trying to break in.”

  “Don’t worry.”

  “I have a feeling given his activities he won’t stay there for long. Since we don’t have much other choice, I would advise watching and waiting. He’ll leave eventually, and I will be able to pick up his trail.”

  “How long will your blood...thing work?” asked Ryle.

  “Long enough.”

  Aphiemi remained silent, her eyes exuding doubt.

  Ryle withheld judgment for now. Given the circumstances, he was up for trying anything. “This gives us time to discuss why he’s doing all this. I’ve been so busy on this mission I haven’t had time to digest it.”

  “I’ve been trying to make sense of it as well. Our conversation on Jacinth was rather...brief, but he made a claim I wouldn’t understand what he was doing.”

  “Hmmm,” mumbled Ryle.

  “Of which I disagree,” said Rez.

  Aphiemi touched Ryle’s shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye on the sensors,” she said and went back to the cockpit.

  Rez lowered his voice. “How is Aphiemi? If I may ask, why is she here?”

  “She’s okay. A little apprehensive about trusting you.”

  “Understandable.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also.”

  “Know this, Ryle. Over the past two years Willdon Aqtal wrenched my soul almost to oblivion. I ventured close to the pit of darkness and what I saw was too terrifying for words. I will not let him do it to Jez or to anyone else for that matter.”

  Rez sounded sincere. In their fight against the Archon’s iron grip, Chrysolite would need all the help it could get—though there may be some complications. “If you ever go back to Chrysolite, you’ll be facing some heavy charges,” said Ryle.

  “All in due time.”

  Ryle looked over his shoulder toward the cockpit. “As for why Aph’s here…I’m not really sure. Who understands women?”

  “Not I.”

  “Apparently my engagement present is one of the diamonds Aqtal is looking for. A friend of Qusam’s soothed her misgivings. Aph originally came to do diplomatic work on Onyx before we left to hunt you down.”

  “You’re engaged to be married? Congratulations.”

  Ryle rolled his eyes. “Well, not yet.”

  “Where did you get the diamond?”

  “From the sword on the mountain. The one Aqtal shattered.”

  “Of course, the Sword of Cyelle,” said Rez, formulating his thoughts. “Fascinating. The one and the same our father used to free me from Aqtal’s death missile on the Serpent.”

  “Our father did what?”

  “He used that same sword to slice open the projectile Aqtal had imprisoned me inside of. That is how I was able to escape and join the battle.”

  “You only told us before that you escaped. I never knew how.”

  Rez took a deep breath. “Mmm, it was very hazy. I was barely conscious when it happened. Much like today, whatever day it is.” He took a step closer to Ryle. “I think I had a vision while on Jacinth.”

  Visions—a subject with which Ryle was intimately familiar. While not the most spiritual person, he couldn’t deny their reality given his past dr
eams of the mountain light. “A vision?”

  Rez nodded. “It was not only something I saw, but also...this is just now coming back to me...something I heard. Music.”

  “Was anyone else in the area?”

  Rez shook his head no. “I checked. I was lying on the sand not far from the ocean. Absolutely no one was nearby, though I do remember a sea turtle.”

  Ryle almost laughed at this—Rez and a sea turtle hanging out on the beach. “Okay, go on.”

  “I saw lights in the sky. There was lightning of course, but this was different, almost…sentient. As if beings were passing over far above. And then I heard music...beautiful music, more beautiful than anything I ever heard even in my younger days on Chrysolite.”

  Ryle didn’t know what to make of it but definitely believed Rez was telling the truth as he saw it. “Interesting.”

  “I heard words.”

  “Words?”

  “Yes. The voices said, ‘Your blood sings.’”

  “Whoa,” said Ryle. “That’s what happens when wizards die, right? Qusam and I have done research on that recently, even an experiment. And sorry, it’s classified.”

  “So the legend goes. But here I am, mostly alive.”

  “We detected and monitored your vitals the entire time. You never...passed.”

  “I was going to ask that next.”

  “Well, this gives me something to talk to Qusam about if we ever catch up with him.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Long story short, we were attacked and got separated. But I’m sure he escaped.”

  “If you give me a little time and space, I can recoup my strength, and we can work together to find Jez and discover whatever Aqtal and Zermal are scheming. But first I need to practice my own music and meditation.”

  “You can have this whole area.” Ryle motioned across the cargo hold.

  “Please assure Aphiemi I am no threat. I sense much trepidation in the air.”

  “I will.”

  “Now, we watch, wait, and prepare,” said Rez.

  Ryle headed back to the cockpit. The irony didn’t escape him of the rescue of Rez from Jacinth, the same world where a year earlier Rez had betrayed Ryle and left him to fight for his life.