Chapter 13

((Seven minutes, Prince Jake. I would highly recommend either splitting the group or finding somewhere to demorph as soon as possible.))

((Jake?)) Cassie said, heavily concerned as the time limit drew near.

He swooped right, dodging around an enormous black growth of the Kelbrid's abode. ((I saw something over here. A window inside. We get in and demorph.))

((How can we be sure the place is clear?)) Marco asked.

((We can't. Sarge, you'll do a fly-by. You see the window I'm talking about?))

Our group had come together into close formation, no longer so fussed about inconspicuousness. We could all see the opening that Jake alluded to. It was a rectangular gap at the rear end of the mansion, at the base of one of the black spires.

((On it, boss!)) Santorelli called. He didn't seem to care that Jake always sent him down first.

His Kelbird body dropped from our cluster, wrapping the single wing to the side so he plummeted like a missile. From an almost vertical descent, he pulled out his wing and hit the air, lashing through to a horizontal flight in a movement that would cause most other creatures severe neck injury.

He zipped by the window with reduced speed. Then he swerved and came back around for a second look.

Then he switched direction again and disappeared inside.

((All clear, boss!))

((Go, go!)) Jake shouted. ((Get in. Demorph!))

With considerable doubt echoing between the rest of us, there was yet no reluctance to follow as our leader made good for the window. One at a time, we entered the dark, open space.

All the while, Menderash had garnered the courage to question, and I listened intently as I observed the dark, empty room. The really empty room.

((Prince Jake, I hate to admit doubts on your judgment, but is this course of action wise?)) he began. ((Surely, there is no such rush that we have to compromise on security.))

((We're doing this now,)) Jake countered firmly. ((The Kelbrid is here. I'm not taking a break to end up losing him.))

((I understand, my Prince, but this seems unnecessarily dangerous. Perhaps a better course would be to keep a sentry while the others demorph and rebuild their strength.))

((We're doing this now,)) Jake growled. ((Nothing we do is going to take the danger out of this. Keep The Shadow ready and respond to any alerts.))

((Prince Jake, I-))

((Not now, Mendy! We're not staying on this planet any longer than we have to.))

The group demorphed in hushed silence, eyeing the room's smooth white walls with no idea of the dangers that lay behind.

I had my own wings back, and it was a welcome change. Regardless, the room didn't appear any brighter. The others were gradually returning to their Human forms.

I noted the layout of the room. Blank white walls and floor, and nothing else to decipher. Absolutely nothing to suggest it was used for anything. The ceiling had a checkered pattern, but it gave away nothing of use and only provided the most minimal lighting. However, I could make out a door. It was a circular section of the wall, a hinge at the top.

Jake compromised enough with the whining Menderash to allow a minute to recover, but that did nothing to settle nerves. We had no sentry, and while Human, they were practically defenseless.

But the time came to change. Jake announced, "battle morphs, everybody. Marco, you find something to use as a club. We corner him and let Marco knock him out cold. Nobody touches him. Under no circumstances. Understood?"

We all understood well enough. I already knew my role. I wouldn't even have to morph again.

"Let's do this quick."

The switch to battle morphs began, something we had not collectively done for so long. It filled me with dread, and I could tell from the faces around me that I was not alone.

The room rapidly became a mini zoo, cramped in the tight space as bodies grew bulkier and larger. Barely enough room for a tiger or a gorilla. An ox or a wolf or a panther. At least I was small enough to sit on the ox's back.

((Marco,)) Jake spoke. ((Break the door off its hinges. Use it as a shield.))

The snorting gorilla nodded, a very un-gorilla-like thing to see. With pan-sized fists, he rocked forward to the door outline. He pushed at it with a chunky finger, and it opened without resistance. Then he smoothly lifted his hand around the side and to the hinge. With a tug and a crack, the entire door came free, and Marco propped it ahead of him like a medieval shield.

He hoisted a tentative, unsteady gorilla foot and crossed the boundary into the next room.

Something must have been triggered. Everything lit up! The dark room became an achingly bright white, causing us to shirk and stutter. Marco dropped the shield against his head and groaned out a guttural bellow.

And then the alarm rang. A high-pitched, pulsating squeal drowned our ears.

((Alarm!)) Jake cried out. ((Everybody get back! Get-))

He froze, simultaneous to a mechanical hum from behind. Slowly we changed direction to come face-to-face with the pair of turrets emerging from the ceiling by the window. They unraveled from their metal wombs with clicks and whirs, components spinning and locking into place. Enormous black barrels stared back, and we gawked deep into the darkness within.

((Shit.))

Jake broke his hesitation. ((Get out. Get out! The door!))

The mad rush commenced with four gargantuan mammals trying to force their way through the doorway. Marco had twisted in place and held up the shield, uttering panicked, repeated syllables. I zoomed out through the smallest of gaps and into the next room over, just as brightly lit.

There came a great boom as the turrets unleashed a wave of whatever ammunition it used! Marco screamed out harshly. His continued cursing meant the shield must have worked.

But my attention didn't remain on him. Rather, it switched to the new turret - the even larger turret that hung from the ceiling in the new room. It groaned low, hauntingly so, as it took aim.

((Mendy! Code red! Get here now!))

Boom! A wave of burning red charged me from the turret! I was already mid-duck, and it clipped several feathers along my back.

I glanced around just in time to see that I was not the intended target.

((Jake!))

He took a blow to the face, having bundled clumsily through the doorway! His tiger head glowed a sizzling red. It was no burn. I couldn't tell what it was.

He collapsed, flopping to the deck like a ragdoll.

At the flick of a switch, Santorelli took charge. ((Get out however you can! Marco, get Jake! I'll clear the path. Everybody follow!))

The ox delivered a determined snort and braced, the boulder of hairy muscle clomping noisily at the floor before charging.

He obviously couldn't find any doors.

A wall came down with a mighty crash, Santorelli's ox plowing through without so much as a flinch.

Marco had dropped the shield. That was his defense gone. Cassie stayed behind as Jake was pulled over the gorilla's shoulder. Jeanne pounced off ahead and through the gap that Santorelli had messily produced.

((Move it!)) Marco screamed to Cassie. She acknowledged and followed the black panther ahead of her.

Boom!

The flash of red filled the air, the blast catching Cassie hard in the side, sending her limp body against the far wall. She wasn't getting up.

((Cassie's down! Cassie's down!)) Marco alerted.

((Shit…!)) Santorelli cursed from two rooms across. ((Can you lift her?!))

I was circling the room, hurriedly assessing the situation as best I could. The group was split, and Marco did his best to grab Cassie, but he was too slow. The turret was charging again!

I moved sharply, flicking my wings so that I landed on the base of the swiveling turret. I looked for any weakness, any wire or button.

There was nothing.

((Damn it! Jeanne! Jeanne is down!)) Santorelli screamed, far out of view.

Marco lurched, dragging with him the two unconscious bodies of Jake and Cassie. Not quick enough. When he stumbled to the side before the door, the turret fired again.

Three bodies were forcefully dispersed across the floor. Unconscious or dead. I couldn't tell.

((Marco's down,)) I told, unable to remove the defeat from my tone.

((Get out, Tobias! Get out now!))

A hum grew, vibrating through my talons. Heat came, the turret fizzed.

Before I could react, the turret blasted, sending from all sides a pulse of sizzling red. It hit, and I was down.