“Two days’ walk, maybe more with a group of four. They’re much too close for us to make it that far, Nix. They don’t need food or sleep, and they’re only a half day behind us as it is.”
Nixon frowned. Two days? That was assuming they weren’t being watched around every corner and behind every tree right this moment. Nixon had already decided they were being followed, likely by those little black spheres. Why no move had been made yet was a mystery.
Begrudgingly, Nixon looked up to the small troop. “Well, I am open to suggestions…” Blank faces returned the statement. “Is there no one else with command of the Power left here?” Nixon asked. “No one who may 'ave a Haven to retreat to?”
“Perhaps, but I have no idea where they’re hiding,” replied Sho. “Most of those that were left are long gone.”
Aryu was lost in thought, doubting his ability to out-think his companions. Nixon looked worriedly at the coming trouble, Sho had his characteristic look of non-interest, and Crystal was still obviously dealing with the issues the loss of her Power had created.
In the end, all Aryu could do was think of Johan, on a mission of his own, and wondered if he would ever see him again. It had only been a little more than a week since he had left him to his own problems. He recalled a foolish part of him hoping he would be done with this madness by now and be back with him.
Still, no one knew what to do. He understood Nixon’s reasoning behind not summoning his considerable abilities just to destroy their first wave and escape. If only they could get somewhere and do some real damage.
“I have an idea,” he said at last. The look on everyone’s face told him two things: that they were glad someone had said something at last, but they were also instantly disheartened to see it was him. It was still worth a try.
“What if we get caught intentionally?” No one laughed or said it was stupid. Each of them knew that there was more to the idea than it seemed. He brought each as close as he could, trying to keep his voice down and his words hidden. “I agree with Nixon that we are being watched right now, somewhere, somehow. I have no clue why they’re waiting. They can fly right to us in an instant. Instead, they’re chasing us. They’re either leading us into something east of here, or playing with us for some other twisted purpose. I’m not about to walk into a trap and I definitely hate being toyed with.”
“So what’s yer point, Aryu?” Nixon was showing signs of actual interest.
“As I said, just let them catch us. We know they want Nixon and me for some reason. We know they think Nixon is a human and shouldn’t have command of the Power anymore. We also know that at the first sign of making any kind of actual escape, they’ll likely just bomb us and be done. If they catch us, it’s a safe assumption that we’ll be taken deeper into their depths, possibly to the heart of the whole thing, or maybe near the person in charge of them. We’re lost without anyone’s abilities; eventually the numbers will just win no matter how valiantly we fight. If we are taken in deeper, then allow Nixon to unleash whatever God-fueled fury I’m sure he’s capable of, we stand a much better chance of taking more important things out with him than if he just cuts down some splinter group of their army that’s heading to us now.”
“But what about us, Aryu?” Crystal asked, more interested now, seeming to set aside her personal demons for a moment. “Sho and I aren’t what they want. I can’t speak for Sho, but I can tell you that I feel the aging process occurring in me now, a feeling I’ve not felt in who knows how long. And if I’m aging, it’s a good bet we can die pretty easily.”
“Crystal, I 'ave some serious doubts tha' ye and Sho could e'er die easily,” Nixon said. After the stories he’d heard and the things he’d seen, Aryu had to agree. Losing the Power didn’t mean losing thousands of years of experience. Experience that included dealings with mechanical enemies before.
“I don’t know, Crystal. Maybe you could still make it out if Nix and I bought you some time?”
“No, I don’t think that will be necessary,” Sho said, finally joining the conversation. “I believe we should go with you. I doubt they will harm us. At least, not right away.”
“And you have reason to believe they’d treat you to some of their hospitality?” Nixon asked.
“I do. It was my brother’s voice. I know it was. I know what I heard and if it’s true, he’s involved somehow. Izuku isn’t stupid, but he is vain. He’d rather brag about how he finally beat me before he dispatches me, and believe me, that’s exactly what he wants to do.”
“Tha’s a hell of a risk t' take, countin' on yer brother’s vanity not t' kill ya now jus' so he can kill ya later.”
“Better than dying or being captured on the run. They have the upper hand here. Even with your abilities Nixon, how long before they just pepper the area with these bombs and get you again. I’m not a big fan of the thought of anyone but you having possession of that weapon.” He indicated Nixon’s broadsword, sheathed on his back. Nixon whole-heartedly agreed.
“They’d jus' take it anyway, and yer shield, and the Shi Kaze. What’s t’ stop ‘em if we jus' walk in t’ their waitin’ arms?” Nixon raised a great point, but Aryu was ready for it.
“Well, for one thing, we don’t let them capture us.
