Vale engaged the ship’s thrusters and proceeded toward the west side of the complex where the stolen transport had been docked when it was taken. He arrived at the site within moments then climbed out of his ship to scan the area for any trace evidence.
Vale adjusted his micro-optics appropriately. A particle trail appeared. This was just what he needed to acquire his target. The ionization pattern matched the type of transport that had been reported stolen.
Vale got back to his ship then proceeded to follow the ionization trail his optics had picked up. It led through the city and then appeared to head into the wasteland area beyond. All he had to do was to follow and surprise his prey.
Vale urged the engine to maximum thrust. Hovering three feet from the ground, his transport flew into the wasteland. His mind became a blur of calculations, reading maps and plotting speed and distance to possible destinations where the targets may have sought refuge. Vale also focused his attention on weaknesses and tactics used to bring down Barudii warriors.
Orin, Tiet and Ranul left the stolen transport behind at the base of Mt. Vaseer. It took them a full two hours of hiking to make there way along the treacherous mountain pass leading to Vaseer’s side gates. The gates to the city were well hidden by the rough terrain and only accessible on foot.
Once great cities like Vaseer had been left to decay following the war. The pathway leading up to the gates was wide and much of the intricate carvings on the walls remained intact. As they drew closer to the city gate, Tiet examined the ornate stonework by the light of Castai’s moon. A rich culture he could barely remember lay before him . His mind wondered with excitement, wondering what the city must have been like when his clan was prosperous, respected and alive.
They came to an intricately fashioned metal gate set within the rock. It was heavily covered with rust. Orin drew his sword then used it to slice through the interlocking mechanism so the gates would swing freely. He and Tiet attempted to move them manually, but to no avail. “Those hinges up there are completely frozen,” Ranul said.
“Tiet, you take one side and I’ll pull the other,” Orin said.
Both men stepped back enough to give the gate room to open, then each of them concentrated on one of the gates with their minds. Slowly the heavy doors began to creak and moan as the rust and metal popped and gave way to the mental power exerted upon them. The gates swung wide and stopped when the two Barudii released them. The carved archway led to total darkness beyond. “Ranul, are you sure somebody is living here now?” Orin asked.
“Of course I’m sure. I imagine they must stay in the lower levels just in case the Vorn ever patrol this far out. Here, take this torch,” he said pointing.
Orin removed the old gas torch from the side of the archway entrance and depressed the fuel trigger. It ignited immediately.
“Apparently it’s been used recently,” Tiet observed.
Orin led the way inside the mountain. The torch gave minimal light, but it was at least enough to see where they were going. Almost immediately the path began a downward descent into the mountain. It was wide enough and tall enough to allow many people at once and Tiet wondered again what it must have been like to live in a place like this. The men proceeded quietly and cautiously. Ranul’s footsteps made more noise than the other two men combined.
A quick flash of metal decapitated Orin’s torch, knocking it from his hand. The gas burner continued to cast a dim light from the ground where it landed as shadows moved along the walls. Orin and Tiet drew their blades and moved in close to guard defenseless Ranul from attack. Several dark figures advanced from the shadows, slashing at the three men with swords. Tiet and Orin defended, realizing their attackers had Barudii blades as well.
“We’re not your enemies!” Ranul shouted over the noisy clanging of swords. “These men are Barudii warriors!”
The two figures attacking Orin backed away, but remained ready. Tiet and his opponent exchanged strikes at rapid fire pace. They seemed oblivious to the sudden cease of battle. Tiet’s opponent flipped over his head. He reflexively used a leg sweep, catching the attacker as he landed.
As his opponent fell backward, he caught himself by the hands and rebounded to his feet striking at Tiet again. Tiet had not expected his opponent to recover so easily. Tiet rotated inside their line of attack with a shoulder-level swing of his blade to bat his opponent’s blade away. He followed through with a powerful backhand to the face. The dark figure reeled from the blow as Tiet took advantage and quickly pinned his opponent’s neck against the wall under his blade.
“Surrender! Don’t make me kill you!”
“Don’t make me kill you,” answered a soft voice from beneath the black mask.
Tiet’s shocked gaze fell to find his opponent’s other hand holding a sizable dagger to his belly.
“Who are you?” Tiet asked.
He slowly lifted the mask to reveal a Castillian woman with fiery eyes glaring at him. He lifted his blade and backed away confused.
“Hmm. She nearly killed you Tiet,” Orin said, amused. Tiet glanced back at the girl as she confidently replaced her dagger.
“The Barudii are all dead,” said one of the men.
“Not quite,” Orin replied. “Is there someone in charge here?”
“Estall is our leader. We’ll take you to him.”
Orin and Ranul followed the men as they lit another torch from the wall and proceeded down the wide path taking them all deeper into the mountain and the city within. Tiet looked at his opponent again. She had fixed her gaze upon him. He sheathed his blade and followed the others as the girl fell in the line behind him. It bothered him that she knew how to use a Barudii weapon so well. She wasn’t even of his clan. And why, he wondered, had these people taken up residence in his family’s abandoned city.
VASEER
The ion trail grew stronger as Vale approached the mountains. At the present particle concentration, he calculated his target must be very close. In the distance, his optics picked up an object near the base of the mountain.
Vale’s sensitive android’s eyes focused and enhanced the image. It was a small transport craft like the one that had been reported stolen from the cloning lab. And the ion trail led right to it. If they had abandoned the craft, then logically they were proceeding on foot into the mountains.
Relevant sites in this region displayed in his mechanical mind’s eye. The only prominent selection was the old Barudii city of Vaseer. Given the present circumstances and the nature of his target, Vaseer appeared most plausible.
Vale slowed the transport then shut down the engines next to the other ship. It appeared to be abandoned. He exited his own transport and walked over to the engine compartment of the other ship. Vale tore away the compartment lid then grabbed the fuel cell housing, ripping it from its mount among the other operational components. He hurled it yards away. If his target did return, then his vessel would not be of any use to escape.
Vale returned to the cockpit of his own ship and encoded the ignition sequence to prevent anyone from stealing it. Then he stepped up to the rear pulse turret. The android grasped the pulse cannon, pulling it free from its mount then jumped back to the ground with it. The mounted gun was nearly half his size and weighed four hundred pounds, yet the android assassin carted it away with ease.
Assessing known entrances and exits to the city of Vaseer, Vale located the closest and bounded away after his prey with his pulse cannon in tow. Dawn approached. He planned to be inside the city before he lost the element of surprise over his targets.
As the group came to the lowest level of Vaseer, the light suddenly greeted them with the splendor of the old city. It was glorious to behold. Tiet stood in awe trying to take it all in. To his surprise, Vaseer was filled with people. All the carvings and gems and precious metals decorating the walls spoke of royalty and power. It was so
