Chapter 12


"Wraiths?" Ulrich asked. He was running, Odd had his Overbike, and William had Odd's Overboard. Yumi and Aelita were the only ones on normal transport: Yumi had her Overwing, and Aelita was flying on her new wings.

"Yup," Jeremy replied gloomily. "Wraiths, and Mantas; Sam's there, too."

"Doesn't anyone think we had enough problems, without bringing the Mantas out of Sector Five?" William complained.

"Hey, you're not the one who has any trouble with them," Odd reminded him.

"Right or wrong situation, we all have trouble with the Mantas," Yumi reminded Odd. "Aelita's the only one who can fly, and Ulrich doesn't have a projectile weapon. Supernaturally, Ulrich and I have an easier time; that's when I can fly, and Ulrich can attack long-range."

Ulrich grinned as he saw the first Manta. "Yeah, like this." He aimed his muzzle at its center and unleashed a howl. The shock waves from the howl didn't destroy the Manta before it swerved off-course, but Yumi's fan intercepted the new course.

"Way to tag-team!" William cheered, pumping his sword.

"Any trouble out there yet, Jeremy?" Aelita asked.

"No, it's still quiet. I guess the rain wiped out your scent trail, Ulrich."

"Lucky it started raining, then," Ulrich replied before howling at another Manta.

Yumi glanced at the digital sky thoughtfully. "Somehow…" she murmured, "I'm not so sure that was luck."

Ulrich looked over his shoulder. "What, you don't think it was a coincidence?"

"Just a theory I have – I'll tell you later. The only question is why…"

Suddenly the first wave of Wraiths lunged for them just as they got in sight of the tower. William set the Overboard spinning, becoming a deadly out-of-control top aimed straight for the Wraiths. He annihilated that wave in one sweep, and Yumi steadied him back out with her telekinesis.

Ulrich spotted Sam just as something occurred to him. "This is a bad time to mention this," he said warily, "But Yumi and I…well; we're the wrong way around to deal with Sam speed-wise, and neither of us can shift."

Odd startled them all by unloading his Laser Arrows at Sam. "I don't have time to sulk right now!" he shouted. "That's not Samantha, it's Xana, and I can wallow in guilt over his capturing her later!"

Yumi and Ulrich glanced at each other and shrugged. Odd wasn't doing a very good job of actually hitting Sam – she was parrying all his darts with her wrist blades – but he was doing a great job at keeping her attention.

"William, remember that death-stunt you did before? Do it again," Ulrich called. "Yumi, steer him towards the Wraiths! Aelita, get to the tower, but watch your back for any Mantas that might get past me!"

"Who made you team leader?" William demanded. But he did start spinning again, and Yumi telekinetically shoved him towards the Wraiths.

Ulrich tilted his muzzle heavenwards and started howling at the Mantas. Some of them were circling the tower, but Ulrich didn't dare turn his attention towards those yet.

Sam shrieked in fury – oh, Aelita must have reached the tower already – and slashed through Odd straight for Ulrich. Spotting her in his peripheral, he tried to dodge in mid-howl.

Suddenly the world exploded. At least, that was what it sounded like. Ulrich toppled over and covered his head, wondering what had just happened. No way was that the tower deactivating…

"Whew!" Yumi exclaimed from somewhere past his right shoulder. "Ulrich, you can get up now. Sam's gone, and that minefield's done blowing up."

Ulrich's head came up with a jerk and he stared at Yumi. "Those Mantas by the tower – they were setting a minefield?"

"Yeah," Jeremy answered, "And you set them off with your howl."

Ulrich didn't remember doing anything of the sort. But then, he'd been more interested in avoiding Sam than in where he was howling. "Well…the tower's down, we're all alive…"

"Odd was devirtualized," Yumi reminded him. "And William was caught in that minefield detonation."

"The scanners are working fine, though, so Ulrich's statement is still correct," Jeremy added from the lab.

"And the pack likely won't remember what they'd been hunting," Ulrich went on, "And with no scent trail to clue them in…I think we can skip the return trip this time."

"Fantastic. I'm bringing you guys in now."


The rain stopped just as they all left the elevator.

"Hey, Yumi," William spoke up, "You said you had a theory about the rain…"

Yumi sniffed the air in a gesture that looked more catlike than doglike. "And I was right. That rainstorm was summoned by a vampire."

"Vampires can summon storms?" Ulrich asked, staring at Yumi. He hadn't expected to hear that vampires could change the weather.

"Elders can; I think they're the only ones strong enough, and I know that no one else is taught."

"But why would an Elder summon all this rain?" Aelita asked, tiptoeing out of the elevator like a bird.

Thus reminded that Aelita had lost her shoes, Ulrich knelt down and let her climb onto his back. He'd returned to normal after returning to the lab, but he could certainly carry one light girl.

Jeremy frowned. "The timing's especially strange. It started a little after Xana took over that pack, and stopped right after we deactivated the tower."

They all climbed back up to the bridge. Suddenly Ulrich stiffened, the panic signals in his head going off.

"Uh, guys…" he began, kneeling down and balancing on all fours.

Yumi shot him a look. "I'm guessing that Elder's coming to say hello," she commented as she exerted her own influence on Ulrich.

"Man," Odd commented, shaking his head, "If big-time vampires are planning to give us assists from now on, then those instincts are going to be a problem."

Elder Akem materialized in what was left of the rain, still in his tailored suit, with something in his hand. "Here you are, Aelita," he said, extending whatever it was…

A vampire Elder had retrieved Aelita's shoes. Ulrich decided it wasn't that funny.

Jeremy approached and took the shoes. "Thank you…for the rain," he said.

"I am pleased to see you've recovered," the Elder replied, nodding to Jeremy in an almost friendly way before fading into mist.

After about a minute of silence William asked, "Did he just say what I thought he said?"