⚡️THUNDERFANG S3 #32

Conspiracy Awaits

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On the other side of the door Elle opened for us, I drained all traces of energy from a few pieces of equipment we happened to find, then pressed on further.

“So that’s it?” Tremor said as I shook off the buzzing sensation. “You just talked to them and they just…let us go? You barely hit them.”

Siege’s laugh was hearty, unaffected by whatever time they’d spent shackled down here. “Why do you think Starboy gave him that name?” He clapped a hand on Ira’s shoulder, causing him to stumble. “Oh, that’s right—you ditched us.” Siege blew her a raspberry and pulled Ira along into a different conversation.

“Loc—I mean…Thunderfang. I…” She sighed heavily and ran a hand through her hair, once again avoiding my gaze. “I’m sorry…about what happened on Avam. Betraying you and the others. Just leaving you behind with the Warden, even though you saved me. I’ve never forgotten what you did for me and…thank you.”

I stopped and pulled her into a deep hug. “We’re good, I promise.”

We cautiously stepped into a vast hanger filled with a handful of dirty land vehicles. They were haphazardly arranged, some of them mid-repair with tools and parts scattered around them.

“This just leads to another tunnel, Locke,” John shouted from the exit on the opposite side. It was large enough to allow the vehicles passage, though something was off. I swiped my hand over a vehicle and rubbed dirt between my fingers. It didn’t feel like Saffron’s sand.

The others were tired from our trek. They huddled together in small groups, the more able-bodied of them tending to the needs of the others. Watt continued to provide oversight and additional aide as needed. He released a few of the seeds he’d been given and gave them to a child to nibble on.

I wanted to leave them all here in relative safety but there was no telling what would happen once we left. Jack could have sent reinforcements after us and they’d be sitting ducks. I counted on one hand the number of non-Irregulars that looked like they could put up a fight—three of those being Siege, Tremor, and Hush.

I silently cursed to myself. We’d have to bring them with us, meaning they would be in even more danger. I leaned against one of the ruined vehicles and tried to collect myself. Ira used his Branding to create a cast of bark and carefully-formed branches for an elderly man, and then a pair of makeshift crutches. Jane spoke with Siege, Hush, and Tremor, no doubt trying to figure out how best to handle any threats ahead. John checked every square inch, eyes peeled for danger or clues. Everyone, even Tick, was doing their best in this moment of relative calm. 

I stood up straight with lightning speed.

I was missing an Irregular.

“Michael,” I said in a hushed tone, trying to summon him without the others realizing. “Michael, get your ass here right—”

He appeared in front of me, a worried expression on his face. “You need to keep moving, Locke.”

“Can you not see that I’m also trying to protect a ton of people in the process? I can’t risk all of their lives. Give me something useful!”

Michael’s brows furrowed and his gaze shifted. He was still looking in my direction, but no longer directly at me.

More…behind.

I spun around, eyeing the vehicle I’d previously been leaning against. What was I missing? It was filthy, its large wheels covered in that dirt I was certain wasn’t from Saffron. Anyone who dared ride inside of it would definitely need an environment suit, seeing as it was barely a frame. For some odd reason, it was built without a roof or doors. Driving it in the Saffron dessert would be a stupid decision.

…Oh fuck.

“Tremor!” She was at my side within mere moments, Siege, Hush, and Jane right behind. John and Ira slowed what they were doing at the distress in my voice. “Are you able to identity soil by any chance?”

“What?”

“This vehicle is out of place here, and the dirt doesn’t look Saffronian.”

“I’ve never tried…” She reached out her hand and slowly closed her eyes. “I’m not really sure what I’m—” 

She gasped and snatched her hand back, eyes filled with confusion and fear. 

“What happened?” I asked.

“I didn’t really know what muscle to flex for that, if it was even possible, so I just tried to move it a little. And…it feels familiar. Every planet’s soil feels different, requires some adjusting to manipulate it.”

“The suspense is killin’ me, Trem,” said Siege.

“It feels like soil from Avam.”

All the murmuring and side conversations stopped. I could feel Hush’s manipulation of the air around is, heavy with worry and dread.

“Did Locke really just teach you how to use your Branding in a whole new way?” Jane shook her head. “This guy is something else.”

“Michael, how did these things get to or from Avam?” I didn’t bother trying to hide the conversation. Jane whispered a quick explanation to Siege and the others about what was going on.

Michael hesitated then slowly shifted his sights to Ira, that deep concern still on his face.

What the hell were we walking into? I cursed to myself again. Why couldn’t Ira have just stayed behind with his parents and—

I looked back at my brother and gave him the heaviest sigh I could muster. “His parents…The Iron Gate is down here, isn’t it?”

Michael took one look at me, gave me a single, solemn nod, and disappeared from sight.

We picked up the pace. To our surprise, Jack had left us a few Risen to combat, no doubt thinking they’d slow us down or stop us entirely. But with so many of us, it was over in an instant and we pushed on.

We followed the traces of the soil from Avam, winding through corridors, until we found ourselves in a large chamber with a high ceiling. Wires crisscrossed over the floor and machines lit up and beeped with purpose on every available wall. Warning klaxons made it hard to focus. But it was hard to miss the large humming vortex in the center of the far wall.

A pool of purple and yellow energy swirled within a metallic arch that stretched almost all the way up to the ceiling, which had to have been at least forty or fifty feet high. A distinctive smell wafted through the air. Most of the captives, along with Jane and Tick, didn’t seem to mind it as we all piled into the room.

But those of the Avam crew, as well as Ira, John, and I, visibly flinched.

Tremor picked up a clump of dirt near the entrance. The look of disgust on her face as she crushed it in her hand was confirmation enough for me. She stepped up onto a platform, two semicircular control panels flanking the walkway, and headed for the portal against the far wall. A sharp gust of air shot past her. She looked to Hush and nodded. “I know, I’m…” She inhaled and held it as she closed her eyes and slowly raised her hand. “I…I think I can feel Avam. It’s on the other side. It’s faint and distant but…also close.” She lowered her hand and stepped back as she cradled herself in her arms.

“You can sense a totally different planet on the other side of this?” Jane recoiled. “Is no one else shocked?”

“I’m not surprised, honestly,” Ira said. “I kind of have this…radar going off in my head of where each of you are.”

“How—Oh, right. The seeds. I’m starting to think walking through walls isn’t that special anymore.”

“Do we just…go through?” Siege stepped onto the platform and approached a control panel, its lights and screens lit up with data and graphs. Ira and I stepped closer to the Iron Gate to inspect it.

John joined Siege, the Ripley in him taking over. “They called it Project Veil. There’s coordinates here, presumably to Avam. Recent usage, less than…Fuck. Less than ten minutes ago.”

Tick stood far away, near the entrance to the room, pocket watch clutched tightly to his chest. The captives huddled in their small groups along either wall, hesitation heavy among them. 

I didn’t want them walking into something unprepared. 

I stepped up to the edge of the platform, looking out over all of them and cleared my throat. “My friends and I know what is coming next, but it’s not fair to ask you all to continue with us without letting you all in on exactly what we’re up against. Jack is planning a war, and using Risen and Branded just like you to fight it. But the bigger shock is…is that Malice is behind it.”

Whispers and murmurs filled the room. I had to sound delusional. Malice had always been nothing but a cautionary tale, the bad guy from the stories that either didn’t exist anymore or never did, or used against us in whatever way benefited the non-Branded. And here I was, telling all of these people that Malice was indeed real and the mastermind behind all of our troubles.

“Jack and his family have been looking for a portal—this portal. It will take us directly to Avam, I’m sure of it. I am not forcing you to come with us. You all are free to go back, but my friends and I must continue forward. We have to put a stop to Jack and Malice, and the only way we can do that is by going through that.”

Many of the captives eyed the way we had came, eager to leave.

“Listen up!” Siege stepped off the platform, clapping loudly to get everyone’s attention. “This guy right here? Best of the best. Never met a more selfless motherfucker in my entire life. I’ve already been to Avam, got the scars to prove it. It fucking sucks. And if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have survived it. Y’all can go ahead and head back that way, but me? I’m going with this guy. Never in my life would I have ever dreamed of going back, but if I’m going with him, I’ll make an exception.”

A few of them seemed to gain more confidence, leaving thoughts of fleeing behind.

A strong gust of wind blew towards the way we came, startling Tick. To my left, Hush had gestured that way with her right hand, a questioning look on her face towards the crowd. Then, another gust of wind blew where her left hand was pointing, towards the portal. It felt obvious what she was asking; the captives seemed to have spent some time with her, because they began looking to each other as they weighed their options.

When the wind died down, I saw something I hadn’t seen in them before. Confidence. Even the ones who didn’t look like they could fend for themselves were ready to put their lives on the line to continue forward.

“Final warning.” Jane stepped forward with her arms crossed.

When no one backed away, I slowly exhaled. They were trusting me with their lives. No pressure, really, considering everyone else in the Forge depended on our victory whether they knew it or not. What if I couldn’t protect them all? Were they destined to be fodder for my victory—or deaths gone in vain if we happened to lose?

The swirling of conflicting emotions and thoughts ceased the moment Ira grabbed my hand. I stared into his dark brown eyes and let some of my worries fade away.

“There’s no going back from here,” I said, turning back to the crowd. “Avam is on the other side, and so is Jack and whatever hellish plan awaits. I wish I could promise you that each and every last one of you would return safe and alive after this, but I’m afraid I can’t. I can’t promise that any of my friends, my loved ones, will make it out either, and that honestly terrifies me to my core.

“But what I can Swear to each and every last one of you is that I will do my best to try. I may not know many of you, but know that you can always bet on my words.”

I raised my ringed hand. However, before I could open my mouth, Tick nodded, his fears seemingly banished. He puffed out his chest and raised his left hand. The other Branded followed suit one by one, each of them mimicking me, raising their left hand, their palm facing them.

Huh? None of them wore rings, and I highly doubted any of them were Ironsworn. Were they trying to Swear? I turned to eye the Irregulars and found that Jane and John were doing the same. Hush smiled and raised her left hand, followed by Siege and Tremor.

Ira was the only one who didn’t. He was too busy smiling at me.

Then he raised his left hand.

They all erupted in cheers, hyping themselves up for what was to come. I pulled Ira off to the side and asked him quietly, “What did I just do?”

“Didn’t we have this talk about you being careful with your words? I think you just accidentally created another branch of Ironsworn.”

A mental montage of me raising my ringed hand while Swearing over the last year flashed through my mind. I couldn’t help but smack myself on the forehead.

Whoops. 

But then I couldn’t help but chuckle. What was I thinking wishing that he’d stayed behind? I wanted him safe, yes, but I also wanted him here with me. “I can’t imagine doing any of this without you,” I said. “Thank you for staying with me.”

He smiled. “Can’t let you go off and die without getting married first. Speaking of, we need to start planning that.”

“We’ll get right on that, after we stop a war.”

“And defeat Malice.”

“And save the entire Forge from another Cataclysm.”

“And learn to lock the doors properly so John can’t burst in while we’re having sex.”

“Alright, who’s going in first?” Siege shouted, interrupting our small moment.

Ira and I stepped back in front of the portal, the purple and yellow hypnotic. I gripped Ira’s hand, silently informing him of my plans. When he didn’t stop me, I raised my hand. Who better to risk it all?

“What if it kills you?” Tremor asked. “We don’t know what Jack did to it.”

“What if we send Watt through first?” Jane suggested—then was furiously attacked by Watt who sported a particularly upset expression. “Sorry! It’s just you’re—Okay, yes, yes, I know, I’M SORRY!”

“Look,” I said, letting my gaze drift towards Tick, “we may not know what happens if we cross this, but I’m confident that if this were deadly, we would have had ample warning.”

Tick did not seem at all happy about my statement, as he rushed to the platform. “No! That’s not what that means at all! You could get hurt and I just don’t come back! You could get attacked, or Ira, or Jane or John or anyone! Just because I didn’t come back doesn’t mean nothing happened!”

I could only offer him a smirk. 

“Ira.”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

And I ran through the portal.

Next week on ⚡️THUNDERFANG:

Locke isn't the only one that keeps their promises.