In the bottom drawer under several blankets, I locate a pair of black leggings with a matching top. The leggings are tight, but slide on easily. The material is soft yet I notice small metal threads woven into the fabric. The top is form fitting, sleeveless, and has a collar that goes around my throat almost up to my chin. The two pieces blend seamlessly into one. I find a pair of socks and boots under the bed. The material of the socks is the same as the leggings and top, but the boots are made of something I’m not familiar with. They fit like they were made just for me. I run my fingers through my hair, trying to work the knots out. Under the dirty clothes are the weapons. I belt my sheath around my waist, but I’m frozen in my spot by what happens next.
The outfit blends around the belt, changing the material to match, along with the sheath. My weapon doesn’t change, but the effect is quite stunning and disturbing. I don’t put Garrett’s items over my shoulder for fear it would change like mine did. I exit my room and take the lift down. I pay close attention when the lift moves past floors eight through five. There is only a second hesitation between the floors. Maybe it’ll be enough to loop in there later.
Garrett is standing by the doors when I arrive, wearing his uniform from The Litarian Battles. His eyes move up and down my frame as I move closer. I hand him his weapon, which he quickly places over his shoulder.
“Where did you find that?” he asks, touching the outfit.
“At the bottom of my dresser.”
“It looks really good on you.”
I feel myself blushing, then I take his hand and loop us to a destroyed building across the street. In a half-hour we’re practically on the other side of the city, at the barrier between it and the Outer Limits. I begin to wonder what’s happening there since I’m sure they’re under attack like Thrace Tower was. I haven’t stopped to wonder whether the rest of Tarsus was overtaken, or if it was just the tower.
The sun is slow to rise this morning. Garrett scouts several yards in front of me, mainly looking for the drones since none have made an appearance lately. I wish they would show because then I could follow them to the others. A faint green light catches my eye. My wristband is glowing and I feel myself looping.
“Garrett!” I shout.
He charges towards me and is able to grab my hand just as I loop. The two of us are pulled through the void and land in the same dark corridor I was in before. Garrett readies his weapon and I unsheathe my Kopis as a single light turns on over us.
“Hello, Max,” a female voice echoes through the emptiness. “We’ve been looking for you.”
“Well, you found me.”
“We know you’ve been sent to the Dead Zone, but where are you hiding?”
So, they can’t penetrate Pentras Tower. My modifications weren’t just so I could handle the other players’ weapons, but so I could access the tower. But why? What’s in that building that the Patrician want so badly?
“I haven’t been hiding. Perhaps the tracker in my wristband is faulty.”
“Perhaps,” the woman replies, but she doesn’t sound convinced.
“What do you want?” Garrett asks after a few moments of silence.
“Are you still loyal to us, Garrett? You haven’t betrayed us like Max has?”
“She hasn’t betrayed you!” he shouts. “She’s infiltrated the Dracken. She’s gained their trust. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Then why isn’t she with them now?” the woman asks, anger heavy in her tone.
“You raided Thrace Tower before she could get to the event. Now they’re all scattered throughout the Dead Zone and Tarsus,” Garrett responds.
“We had no choice,” another voice chimes in. This one is male. “The Keepers discovered Max’s ability. She was foolish to have demonstrated it.”
“I was forced to,” I scream. “You needed me to get to the event, so I did what I had to in order to survive.”
“Nevertheless, we had to accelerate our actions and activate our army before they were ready.”
Garrett and I look at each other. Bewilderment on both our faces.
“What army? You have the Aedox, so why would you need an army?” I ask.
“To destroy the Dracken, of course,” Leader Fallon says, emerging from the darkness.
“I should kill you,” I threaten, bringing my weapon close to her neck.
“Edom had no right to do what he did to your parents,” she says. “The punishment you inflicted on him was just.”
“Then why keep his death quiet? You’ll announce the murder of a Dracken Leader, but not one of your own? Why?” I ask.
“Preservation,” she responds. “If the Dracken followers believe they are being targeted, then maybe they’ll change their strategy.”
“But broadcasting the death of a Patrician Leader would show your weakness,” Garrett says, sidling up close to me. His arrow is aimed at Leader Fallon’s heart.
“That’s your interpretation,” she replies.
An uneasiness settles between us. Several minutes pass before the silence is finally broken.
“Max, we still need you,” the female voice says.
“Why? You have an army now. What do you need me for?”
I know the answer, but I just want them to admit it.
“We need you to get into Pentras Tower,” Leader Fallon says. “Our army can only do so much. They can’t access the Dead Zone at this time. Every moment counts and
