The Assassin of Rata Sum

by Aegis Runestone

Vini, a young asura thief, aspires to be much more than others. Charming, and brilliant, she leaves either a bad taste or a succulent one in another's mouth. However, as the Inquest steal her inventions and try to frame her, a greater threat overshadows them. Will Vini be able to stop the Inquest before the Elder Dragons destroy all of Tyria? This is Vini's story.

12. Chapter 11: The Professor & the Traitor

Chapter 11: The Professor and the Traitor

Vini and Batanga slipped down the diamond-shaped halls of the Inquest Complex. They stuck to the shadows, avoiding Inquest detection, and only used non-verbal Thieves' Cant to communicate. Finally, after a few turns, they reached a shielded gate that led to a larger room with several Inquest Operatives.

The room was designed efficiently; the main consoles were positioned around a crystal which laid at the center of the room. On each side of the room was an open section, each having a barrier of their own. Lab tables were placed at the entrances of each opening along with security golems. The operatives themselves appeared to be unarmed, save a few guards, and occupied with their tasks. Whatever they were.

Those security golems will be difficult to disable without alerting the rest of the base, Vini thought with a sigh. She looked at Batanga, whose expression shared the same sentiments.

"What do you suggest?" she asked in Thieves' Cant.

"There's no choice but to deactivate that shield," Vini responded. "And somehow we'll need to sneak in without being detected."

Batanga smiled. "I've been through tougher situations. Let's breach the shield and shut down those golems!"

Vini returned her smile and nodded. Though, one thing bugged her: there were no guards in front of the shield. Odd.

She looked back at Batanga and asked, "any ideas? I don't see a console nearby."

"An electro-static bomb should disrupt the shield and shut it down."

"Sounds like my type of technology." Vini grinned. Gesturing to her, she added. "Let's generate a disturbance!"

Batanga reached into her pouch, and procured a small crystal-like object. She hurled it against the shield, and it bounced off of it a ways. Vini saw her companion count down with her fingers. Five... four... three... two... one.

A static discharge erupted from the crystal, and hit the shield. Immediately, the shield flickered and then disappeared. The device itself was broken into pieces.

"What's going on?!" an Inquest guard shouted. Vini and Batanga shifted quickly into the shadows. The guards ran out to investigate the disturbance. One, a technician, knelt down over the shattered crystal, and examined it.

"Glitch," he muttered, frowning. "This is a major problem." He spun and pointed at the lab chef—denoted by his peaked hat. "You!" The chef recoiled. "Activate the golems and have them search this area!"

The chef nodded submissively, and went to a console at the edge of the room. Vini heard him press a few buttons, and the golems hummed to life. They stood up, and looked around for a second before clomping over to the guards.

Vini beckoned to Batanga to sneak into the lab. She nodded in response and the two slipped past them into the lab.

"I hear something—movement," said another guard; an Inquest assassin. Vini almost cursed under her breath.

"Activate the golems' thermal visioning systems," the technician commanded. "We cannot risk another breach!"

Vini looked at Batanga—they were clinging to the edges of the lab due to light in the room—and spoke to her in Thieves' Cant. "We can't attack them. They'll sound the alarm."

"Correct," Batanga replied, her face grim.

"I have an idea, we can turn the golems on the guards, and seal the way out." She pointed to a large button next to the entrance from the inside. "The shield's disabled, but the button is not."

"Good plan, how are we going to turn the golems on their foes?"

"With a little assassin magic," Vini responded with a confident grin. "You go to the shield button, and I'll tamper with the golems' AI. I will give you a signal when it's good to raise the shield."

"But... the light will reveal you, Vini!"

"Just trust me." Vini slipped out of the shadows, and immediately, she was spotted.

"M-man-eater!" a female asura assistant cried out.

Vini heard the guards yell, but she didn't care. She grabbed two handfuls of black powder and threw it onto the lab operatives. Thick dust filled the air, and the Inquest were busy rubbing their eyes and coughing. Too busy to stop Vini from running over to the golems' console. She signaled Batanga and the Whispers Agent pressed the button.

Just as she had assumed, Vini saw the shield rise. The guards ran into it, and shouted, "alert the base! We have intruders!"

Nope, Vini thought as she hacked into the console. With swift motions and her keen mind, she found the golems' AI program, and immediately changed its function.

"All—Inquest—life-forms—are—now—hostile—switching—targeting—systems."

The expressions on the guards' faces turned from anger to horror as the golems unleashed their weapon systems on them. The hapless Inquest were crushed within a few minutes.

During that time, the smoke had cleared. Vini caught the chef reaching for what looked like to be an alarm (she guessed from the button's crimson color). She hurled one of her daggers at the chef's arm. The chef let out a cry of pain and his arm recoiled with a dagger sticking in his bleeding arm.

"Pl-please! Don't kill us!" one of the assistants begged.

Vini ignored him, she saw the golems trying to break through the shield with their metal fists, and went back to the console. She activated a particular function on the golems—self-destruction—and as soon as she hit the key, the golems collapsed into pieces.

The chef shuffled slowly away from Vini while on his back. Terror filled in his eyes. She didn't know what to think; her rage was increasing by the moment and her mind clouded. Then, she saw Batanga walk up to the chef.

She slowly removed the dagger from his arm. He let out a howl of pain, but then relaxed as the Whispers Agent applied a healing salve, and then bandaged his arm. "Calm down, we won't terminate you."

"B-but I heard how the man-ea—I mean the Savant slaughters Inquest without mercy!" The chef said. "I don't want to die!"

Vini frowned sadly, and her rage subsided. Their helpless state brought a special person to her mind. Pol...

Zojja was right; she should have shown mercy to that one Inquest in the prison. "Hand me my dagger, Batanga," she said. The agent looked at her, shocked. "No, I won't kill him." She looked around the room. "Listen to me, if you promise not to sound any alarm, and swear to leave the Inquest, I will refrain from killing any of you."

"You would spare us?" one of the lab assistants asked in wonder. "Why?"

Vini looked away. "Because I am not a monster like your leaders." Batanga returned to her, and she took her dagger back, sheathing it.

"But..." the chef started. He shuddered when Vini looked at him. "But... I was unable to find a krewe in Rata Sum. That's why I j-joined the Inquest! I have no other proper way of making a living for my f-family." He swallowed, still shaking. Before he continued, he winced, grabbing his wounded arm. "Please, Savant, at least let me—"

She shook her head, and placed her hands on her hips. "If you work with the Inquest, you continue to support them. Go back to Rata Sum, and find Zojja; she's not there now, but will be later," she explained. "Tell her Vini sent you, and she will find you a krewe to work with. Also, I am certain my mentor, Canni, could use a few more people, and she's at the city."

"I..." The chef stopped, and breathed rapidly. "V-very well. I won't tell a soul." He looked at the others. "Nor should any of you!" he ordered, still shaking. "We're leaving the Inquest!"

"Relax," Vini said, holding up a hand. "All of you, vacate. I'll open the shield." She frowned. The lab krewe outnumbered Batanga and her. Would they turn on their word when the shield was down? Then, she stopped herself. "Hold on a moment..."

"What is it, Savant?" the chef asked, his voice still trembling.

"Where is professor Gorr?" she asked, turning around.

"Who?"

Vini frowned deeper.

"Really! I haven't the foggiest of whom you're talking about!" the chef exclaimed. "We're... just mere peons to the Inquest. They told me nothing of this... professor."

"Wait," the female assistant interjected. "I saw the Inquest take someone deeper into the complex. They caught me snooping and told me to activate that path's barrier." She swallowed. "I was... directed not to speak of it to any asura, even my chef."

"That has to be Gorr," Batanga said to Vini. She looked at the assistant. "How long has it been since he was taken?"

"My mind is too... scrambled for an exact calculation, but, it had to be a few hours ago."

He could be dead by now, Vini thought, biting her lip. "You said you raised the barrier, correct?" she asked. The assistant nodded. "Open it for us. My friend and I are heading in to retrieve Gorr."

"But what if we are detected?" the assistant asked, fear returning to her eyes.

Vini smirked. "Then, I'll have to spill some Inquest blood." She cracked her knuckles. "And then we'll see how thick those bones are in their heads."

The assistant nodded, yet swallowed.

"Regardless... I'll shut down the shield," Vini continued, and she walked over to the button. "Now, all of you have made an oath. I want you to keep it, understood?" They all nodded; they seemed less afraid. "Good." She pressed her hand against the button, and it slid into the wall.

As soon as the shield was down, the krewe began to rush to the door.

"Wait!" the chef hissed, still clutching his arm. "We have to evacuate quietly, otherwise, we'll be killed."

Vini clenched her hands as she watched the krewe leave in silence. The Inquest were now not only murderers, thieves, and frauds, but also enslavers. Every time I meet the Inquest, they only give me another reason to exterminate them.

Occasionally, the members would look back at Vini—fear remained in their eyes. She sighed, and looked at the female assistant remained and Batanga. "Let's go," she said. "Lead us to the barrier's console."

"Affirmative," the assistant said. "This way." She ran ahead, while Vini and her companion followed.

They passed the krewe, and crossed the path. Then, the assistant stopped and waved to Vini and Batanga. Vini slowed her pace and walked up to the female asura. Curious; she was staring at a section of the wall.

"Watch," she said. She pushed a tile in the wall, and it opened, revealing a small lever. She pulled it and then turned to the other two. "There, the barrier should be down. I wish you the best of luck."

"Thank you," Vini said with an appreciative nod. "Get out of the premises before the Inquest find you." The female assistance nodded in response and ran up the path. The assassin turned to Batanga. "Are you primed for some more stealth?"

"Always," she replied with a grin.

"Good." Vini beckoned to her with a hand, and the two melded into the shadows. They arrived at the 'central hub' near the entrance. The barrier leading deeper into the complex was gone, just as the assistant had promised.

Vini and Batanga headed through the corridor that led down into the base. Undetected, they passed by a few guards here and there. Soon, they arrived at a large room with a giant diamond structure (the reactor) in the center. The room itself was set in a four-cornered layout. There were a few guards here and there, but no golems.

Something nagged at Vini; this seemed too easy. She knew Gorr had to be in the room, but the lack of resistance worrried her. This is not good. They're planning to trap us. But I have to save Gorr anyway, I'll deal with the trap when, or if it comes.

She looked at Batanga, whose expression shared the same concerns. Yet they had no choice. The two slipped into the room, and began their search for Gorr.

The room was lit like the previous lab, and the guards noticed Vini and shouted, "man-eater! Kill her!"

She drew her daggers and jumped out of the shadows. "Where's Gorr?! Tell me!" she demanded.

"Only if you can discover his location," one of the Inquest guards grinned. "Too bad you will expire before then." The first guard, wielding an axe, shadowstepped to her. He swung and Vini brought up her daggers...

Clang! Deflecting the attack, Vini countered by leaping over the guard's head and spinning around upside down, her daggers whirling in her hands. The guard stumbled back, and he wiped his head, looking at the blood.

Growling, he charged her again, this time, releasing a static discharge at her. Vini almost rolled to the left, but the disruptive energy hit her in the chest, dazing her. She could vaguely hear the other guard come up from behind.

Damn it! Vini tried to shake off her dazed state, but her chest was still searing from the attack. I won't die here!

Then, she heard the Inquest in front of her gasp, and the guard behind her let out a howl of pain. As the electric discharge died down, Vini regained control of herself and took a quick look behind her.

The guard was dead, and over him was standing a victorious Batanga with bloody daggers in her hands. Vini briefly smiled and then faced the other Inquest guard.

He was running toward a console. "Oh, no you don't!" she shouted. She shadowstepped in front of the guard, and stabbed him in the chest with both daggers. The axe fell onto the metal ground with a clatter and the Inquest operative fell, dead.

"Help!" shouted a familiar voice.

"Now, now, professor," said a malicious voice. "We just need a little more information, and then you can enter a quiet stasis... which won't end, I will warn you."

Vini darted around the reactor and saw a prison cell at the end of the room, blocked by another shield. "Wait here," she told Batanga. "No, I'll be fine," she added before the agent could protest.

She ran over to the shield, which had a console next to it. Silently, Vini hacked into it, and found the program to open the prison's barrier.

"Tell us," said a second voice. "before we terminate you, professor, we need to know the password to your datalogs."

"What?! No!" Gorr screamed. "That's personal to me! I cannot merely give out my passcode."

"You won't live much longer if you don't. Talk!"

Gorr howled as the sound of a taser shocked him. Vini growled, and pressed the button on the console. The shield opened, and she walked in, melding with the shadows.

The prison was a large room, not nearly as big as the previous, however. It seemed to double as a torture chamber. There, Vini saw Gorr strapped to a lab table with two Inquest operatives flanking it, each holding devices made for interrogation.

Just like Pol! She wanted to jump out and attack the Inquest, but then noticed there was a small set of reactors around the room; obviously to power the containment cell. A grin passed over her face as she saw, and recognized a reactor console nearby.

She slipped over to the console quickly, and then broke from the shadows. She waved at the Inquest and shouted, "salutations!" She tapped into the console while occasionally glancing at them.

They looked at her, and their expressions turned from triumph to a mix of horror and anger. They exchanged glances and then the first Inquest said, "let's see how the man-eater handles herself under duress."

"Agreed."

I wish they would stop calling me that! Vini thought with rage. "Come over to me and attempt it, you rats!" she taunted. "I calculate a one-hundred percent chance of failure."

The first Inquest growled and drew a sword, and the other, a staff. They approached her and encircled her about—and foolishly near the reactors.

"Farewell," Vini said as she activated the self-destruct sequence on the reactors. The lights flashed red, and the reactors began to hum with a loud siren.

"What?!" The two appeared frightened, and made a dash for the door. Vini shadowstepped away from the console in time to see the reactors explode, and kill the two torturers. The containment cell in the middle deactivated, but Vini didn't care, instead she ran over to Gorr's table.

"W-who are you?" he asked, staring with wide eyes at Vini. "Are you here to h-harm me, too?"

"Negative," she said. "I'm here to rescue you. My name's Vini, and I was at your presentation earlier today. I am very impressed by your theory."

"Uh... thank you? Wait, Vini? As Vini Yu—?"

She restrained herself from yelling. "Please don't use that name; I don't have a surname," she said.

"O-of course!" Gorr stammered. "My apologies. H-hey! What are you—?!" he exclaimed as Vini drew her daggers.

"I told you already, I'm here to rescue you. Don't move." She slid the dagger blades under the straps and cut them open in one swift motion. "There."

"Thank you, Vini," Gorr said. He struggled to pull himself off the table. Vini could see several closed wounds on his body; they looked fresh, however.

Disgust and rage filled her body. "You're... wounded. And they closed the wounds after every time they opened them?!"

Gorr nodded. "They're sadists," he said with a shudder. He was still struggling, and Vini grabbed his hand to help him down. "Um... you're not going to—?"

"No!" Vini growled, feeling embarrassed. Why does every male think I want to engage in intercourse with them? "Now, come on, let's leave this glitched place!"

"Wait," Gorr said, holding up a hand. "I have to retrieve my datalogs. They are over here." He walked over—surprisingly well—over to a nearby self. He grabbed a tablet and then turned to Vini. "All right, I'm ready."

"Good," Vini said with a nod. "Go ahead, I'll watch your back." Gorr nodded again and walked out of the prison into the larger chamber. Batanga was waiting at the entrance.

"Vini! I'm so glad, I surmised you had been caught!" she said, astonished.

"Yet, I found Gorr instead," Vini said with a smirk. "Let's get out of here! I don't want to be drowned in Inquest operatives."

"Right you are," Batanga said. "I'll take the lead, that way," she added, looking at Gorr, "you'll be protected from both sides."

"Excellent," the professor said with a relieved sigh. "I don't want to stay any longer."

They headed across the room toward the exit. Vini kept her daggers handy, and her eyes darted around the room for any secret activity. She was determined to escape alive, even if that meant fighting the highly specialized of Inquest assassins.

"Now, girl, where do you think you're going?"

Vini stopped, as did Gorr and Batanga. Only one person called her 'girl.' She turned around slowly and narrowed her eyes. "Varkk."

The gnarled asura stood in Inquest armor, carrying an oversized hammer over his shoulders, smiling at Vini. "It has been awhile, hasn't it?" he said.

She didn't smile back. "I didn't realize a old, crippled male like you could carry a weapon of that magnitude, you traitor."

"Resorting to insults? I suppose that is very much like you, girl." His smile spread into a grin. "Oh, this weapon is quite easy to carry with augmented muscles like mine. I often try to make the point of my argument with the head of my hammer."

Vini heard Batanga whisper to her, "best avoid that hammer."

"Rather brilliant of you to override the self-destruct sequence on the reactors in order to kill off my allies," Varkk continued. "Of course, you were usually the one on top of things. Both ways."

Vini grit her teeth. "My personal life is none of your business."

"Perhaps not," Varkk agreed. "Regardless, I'm going to give you two a fifty-fifty chance to live. It all depends on whether or not you decide to give the professor and his datalogs to me." He smiled. "One choice allows you to live, the other choice gives you the opportunity of seeing how well-constructed my hammer is."

Vini frowned. "We're not handing over Gorr," she said, defiant. "Not even if the Destroyer were to awaken again." She wipped out her daggers. "I'd calculate that your speed lacks functionality anyway; you can't catch me."

"Poor choice, girl," he said, shaking his head. "Just like refusing our Master's offer. Oh well, I'll enjoy crushing your man-eating body." He brandished his hammer.

"Go ahead and try! Gorr! Run!" she ordered, keeping her eyes on Varkk. "Batanga, with me!" She the professor gasp, and then his feet run across the metal floor.

"Morons," Varkk said, tapping a button on his belt.

There was a shiwn sound from behind. "He's blocked the way out!" Gorr exclaimed.

Vini grit her teeth again. Stupid...! She shot an angry glare at Varkk. "I'm going to murder you," she said with a dark voice.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll try, but enough conversing, battle awaits!" Varkk swung his hammer at the two of them.

"Look out!" Batanga exclaimed. Vini rolled to the side, and barely avoided Varkk's weapon. Barely.

What?! How can he swing something so large so fast?! Vini jumped into the air, and hurled one of her daggers at her foe. He, with expertise, deflected the dagger with ease. "What in the blasted Alchemy is—?"

The hammer's head came right at her own. Vini shifted mid-air to avoid the blow, and landed on the ground next to Gorr. A direct attack is suicidal. She frowned again, and sheathed her dagger. Before she could draw her shortbow, Varkk slammed his hammer onto the ground in front of Vini, knocking her back-first onto the metal floor.

She howled in pain, and dropped her bow. As soon as the daze wore off, she saw Varkk above her ready to smash her head in.

"Vini! Look out!" Batanga yelled. Varkk's weapon swung down on Vini, and she raised her hand reflexively to protect herself when a loud crack sounded before her.

She had blinked, and on the ground in front of her was an unconscious Batanga, bleeding from her forehead. Vini rose, and went to her ally when Varkk attacked again, forcing her to backflip, and once again, barely avoid his assault. She backed up against the entrance's shield with Gorr.

Varkk, however, didn't move. Instead, he stood over Batanga with an evil grin and raised his hammer over his head. "Shall I crush her skull in, Vini? Or, I could let her live... if you surrender the professor to me. And don't move, either."

Vini's chest rose and fell in rapid pace. Batanga... no... She looked back at Gorr, and then to the Whispers Agent, and then to Varkk. "Just... what do you really want with the professor anyway?" she hissed.

"I'm certain you already heard, girl," Varkk said, still grinning. "And this hammer is becoming quite cumbersome... should I just let it slam into your friend's head? What a sad ending for her."

I have an idea... "All right... I surrender. Here's Gorr," Vini said, masking her confidence.

"What?!" Gorr gasped. "But I thought—!"

"Trust me," she whispered to the professor. When Varkk's eyes strayed to Batanga, Vini reached into her pouch and grabbed the last bit of black powder. "Now, lower your weapon and let her live," she said to him.

"Of course, I'll just drop it on her." He sneered, looking at her.

Vini returned the expression. "Dirty like a rat!" She flung the black powder into the Inquest Operative's eyes, and he let out a howl, dropping the hammer behind him.

"My optical vision!" he cried out, clawing at his eyes. "How dare you!"

She snorted, whipped out her other dagger and leaped onto Varkk's chest, knocking him down. "You'll never see the sunlight again!" She slammed her dagger into his right eye, and then ripped it out. Varkk roared, and shoved Vini off.

He picked up his hammer and swung at her. The weapon hit her main arm, knocking the dagger out of it. A sharp pain shot through her arm's bones, and she stumbled back. No, he'll kill her! Grabbing an arrow from her quiver with her off-hand, she shadowstepped to Varkk and stabbed the arrow in his left eye.

He dropped the hammer again, and stumbled back, tripping over Batanga's body. Vini grabbed her dagger from the ground and pounced on Varkk.

"Vini! You wouldn't kill your krewe leader, would you?" he begged. "Please, I'm only following orders!"

"You know the old saying: 'always be loyal to your krewe,' she said, narrowing her eyes. "And you broke that rule. Tell Teyo hello for me when you reach the Mists!" She slammed the dagger into Varkk's chest, ripped it out, and repeated the process until he went limp.

She sheathed her dagger, and collected her other two weapons. Wincing, she noticed Gorr's horrified expression. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I... I'm not a male of violence," he explained. "That was... terrifying to witness." He licked his lips. "What about your friend?"

"We're going to carry her." She knelt down, and took out a first aid kit. Fighting the pain of her right arm, she wrapped up Batanga's bleeding head with a bandage.

"But... my datalogs," he protested. "They are too large to—"

Vini frowned at him. "Give it to me," she said, standing, and extending her left hand. "I have a pouch that is specifically designed for large items. They decrease the size of the object without disrupting its atomic structure."

"Very well," Gorr handed his tablet over to her. Vini stuffed it into a side pouch, and then lifted the Whispers Agent over her good shoulder. Gorr walked over, and used his right side to carry Batanga. "I hope we don't run into more Inquest."

"I share your sentiments," she said to him. "Hurry, I'm not allowing someone who saved my life twice to die on me."

"Wait! The barrier!" Gorr exclaimed.

Vini hissed; she had forgotten Varkk's trap. "Hold on, let me shut it down," she said.

However, at that very moment, electricity arced all over the shield, and it discharged in an explosion of sparks. When the dust cleared, Vini saw Slep, Krasso, Zojja, and Mr. Sparkles in front of the exit.

"I apologize for being late," Zojja said.

"What in the Alchemy happened here?" Krasso asked. "Agent Batanga is...!"

"That's a terrible wound," Slep commented. "The Vigil have medics. We can get her healed on our trajectory back to Rata Sum."

"My golem can take her," Zojja said. "Give your arm some rest, Vini." Mr. Sparkles walked over and relieved Gorr and Vini of their burden. The genius peered around them and raised a brow. "Is that... Varkk?"

"Was," Vini corrected her. "Didn't you state weeks ago that you were tracking him?"

"I lost his trail," Zojja explained. "But nevermind, it appears you took care of him. Good job. Now, would you care to explain what happened here on the way, Vini?"

"Gladly."

The group gathered themselves together, and listened to Vini as she expounded what had happened from the point she and Batanga had entered the complex.