There was an affirmative nod from Thomas as he ended the call.
Staler instructed some persons to inform everyone and prepare for leaving. Soon, there was commotion everywhere in the Brentinute.
Pyros said to Staler, “There’s a problem. Almost all the equipment and machinery will be teleported but it will not be possible to teleport the spaceship.”
Staler thought for a while. “It’s a difficult decision, but let us leave it here.”
The Brentinute was galvanized with energy. Heavy machinery and equipment were brought to the ground through special tools.
Pyros summoned magic, and constructed a wormhole, linking the place to the Island of Humans. The Scavenger coordinated with Thomas as the teleportations began.
Pyros chanted some spells and the wormhole expanded, sucking the equipment and machinery within it.
It was evident that Pyros was focusing very hard in sustaining the wormhole. Half an hour later, he gritted his teeth. “I can’t do it anymore!” His eyes started to shut in exhaustion.
With a grunt, Pyros flopped down unconscious. The wormhole closed. Many of the equipment and machines, including the Chariot of Destruction, could not be sucked into the wormhole. The Scavenger lifted the unconscious Pyros into the chariot. He turned to Staler and said, “Get everyone moving to the Island of Humans on the chariots and horses. A few of us will leave a bit later after preparing surprises for the enemy.”
He turned to the children and handed them the chariot’s keys. “Take Pyros and leave to the Island. We will follow.”
The children boarded the chariot along with Pyros and left.
Staler brought several huge bags, full of brick-like things. The Scavenger, along with the Staler and his team, placed the bricks all around the Brentinute perimeter.
After a full day of hard work, the Scavenger smiled, looking at Staler. “This time, the enemy will know that we were one step ahead.”
Staler smiled back. The Scavenger muttered something and a small portal appeared. One by one, Staler, his team and the Scavenger entered it.
They emerged right in front of Thomas’s office on the Island.
The children had already arrived and they had admitted Pyros in the Island’s hospital.
Thomas welcomed Staler and the Scavenger in his office.
“Any update?” the Scavenger asked.
“Never in my life have I seen the Island so busy,” Thomas said. “The accommodations, shelters for equipment, etc., are ready. I ensured that Skazen was kept away. I too have started to see Skazen as suspect.”
“What happened?” the Scavenger asked.
“When leaving the Island, you said you would return in a day. As the days passed, he kept asking me of your whereabouts. Of course, I didn’t tell him, but he was quite persistent. Skazen also asked Ms Hilary about the mechanisms that make the FLICK so special and how it was created. Of course, there’s nothing wrong if some warrior is curious in the FLICK, but Skazen is a suspect.”
“This seems suspicious,” the Scavenger said.
“Should we act? I mean, confine him or something,” Archer asked.
“You mean put him in jail?” James asked.
Archer nodded in affirmation.
The Scavenger said, “Archer is right. We can’t take any more risks. We already made the mistake of trusting Flor and Cayden.”
“But still,” Daniel said, “we can’t put a person in jail just because of some behaviour on his part which might seem suspicious to us. What if he might be innocent?”
“Daniel, come on!” James groaned. “Previously, when we were dealing with the Skull Warrior, you trusted Urrax, and look how that turned out! Our friends died!”
Daniel was silent as he had no answer to James’s accusation. When they were taking on the Skull Warrior, Urrax was a child demon whom Daniel had trusted. Later, it turned out that Urrax was actually an otherworldly creature who supported the Skull Warrior. Urrax was the one who had killed Aronicle.
“James, no point in remembering that experience,” the Scavenger said and turned to Thomas. “Just put him in the prison. No more arguments on this.”
Thomas nodded and instructed the chief guard accordingly.
The chief guard nodded and left. Within five minutes, a monitor in Thomas’s room blinked to life. It showed the chief guard along with four other guards breaking into Skazen’s room.
Skazen was lying on the bed. He jumped up in surprise.
As the guards tried to apprehend him, Skazen resisted, punching one guard hard. He jumped, leaping backward behind the bed.
“What are you doing?!” Skazen shrieked.
“We are under orders,” the guard replied. “To arrest you.”
“But why? What have I done?” Skazen looked shocked.
“We are under orders to arrest you. Surrender,” the chief guard shouted.
“I am sorry. I have to defend myself,” Skazen said and picked up a sword lying on the floor. As the guards advanced on him, he jumped upwards. A hidden claw appeared in his hand. He stuck to the ceiling and gave a powerful kick to one of the guards, knocking him out at once.
“This is not good,” the Scavenger whispered. He got up and started pacing the room.
The others looked with rapt attention at the monitor.
Skazen was prevailing. He knocked out the guards without much effort. With a kick, he sent the chief guard crashing into the television set.
“Oh, no!” James exclaimed. “He’s going to escape.”
But surprisingly, another figure entered Skazen’s room. It was...
The Scavenger.
Skazen narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing?”
“We know who you are,” the Scavenger replied. “Enough.”
“What do you mean?” Skazen asked.
“Stop it,” said the Scavenger. “I don’t want to hear anything more -”
Mid-sentence, the Scavenger suddenly leapt on Skazen, wielding his baton.
Skazen blocked the lightning-fast attack and retaliated with a kick. The fight went on, but Skazen was no match for the Scavenger. Within a few moments, Skazen was knocked out.
After handing over Skazen to the security guards, the Scavenger returned to Thomas’s office.
“It seems we underestimated him,” Thomas said. “He dominated our guards.”
The Scavenger nodded. “Obviously. The person who almost dodged the trained Greenies has to have some strength in himself.”
“Anyway,” James asked Thomas, “I am just curious to know if Osay has
