Chapter 15: Vivex
November 9, 7:10 PM
"Back so soon? I didn't think we'd see you back here."
"Well what makes you think that?"
"Heh, well Vivex came back alone, so we figured you got roasted."
"Well I wasn't. It's not that easy to get rid of me." Cynder flicked her head, as if to dismiss the guard she was speaking to. He gave a low huff before swinging his arm to tell the other guards in the nearby tower to open the gates for her. The door came to life with a soft metallic clanking sound before slowly rising to reveal the Sentinel sector. With a scowl, she entered the gates and into the sector, leaving the city of Baltimore behind.
The command and control complex of the Sentinels rested in an area of Baltimore to its northwest, nestled in a few city blocks that had since been destroyed or renovated for the Sentinel's use. A tall wall surrounded the Sentinel sector, restricting all access outside of the main gates throughout the walls. It was kind of funny to Cynder, it was like a city within a city. Then again, with the circumstances surrounding the Sentinels, it didn't surprise her… In recent years, the city had stated that all Sentinel traffic and activities were to rest solely within their sector, and outside of Baltimore. That meant a lot of consolidation into their sector, and a massive build up inside…
Several buildings rested within the walls, going as far as you could really see amongst the urban sprawl. Some were only single floored buildings while others reached as high as five stories. They ranged from office buildings for official business or barracks to house troops. They could house quite a large number of soldiers here, at least six thousand at any given time. While most people liked to think that was the greatest of the Sentinel's strength in the east, the dirty little secret was that they operated several other bases on the east coast, most smaller then this one and mostly for recon. They did have a much larger facility up north… hidden amongst the forest. She'd never been there or seen that place, only heard Vivex talk about it.
The Sentinels had graced this area with their own architecture, which was unique amongst the old Forger buildings or knock offs that permeated this world. The stone and metalwork was gray or black, and very angular. A special stone that the Sentinels coveted lined their buildings, giving off a purple glint in the sunlight. These stones were new, grown in the west near the mountains that bordered their Master's fortress. The stones were exotic here in the east, which made them prized. While some of the buildings were simple, angular and flat some others were more ornate. Archways and great stone columns dominated their architecture as well as well decorated and hand crafted statues and sculptures. For all their hatred of humanity and their creations, they seemed to take interest in an old, ancient design and architecture style called "Gothic." Though, nobody wanted to really admit that… Rather, they'd just like for everyone to think they came up with this unique style all themselves.
Several Sentinels walked around, some in full gear and others without any gear on at all. Most were Sentinel soldiers, ready for combat or otherwise enjoying some off time within their sector. Most looked anxious for combat… ready for a fight. There was no fight here in Baltimore, just a quiet sector and an anxious city itching to avoid them completely. It was funny seeing the soldiers without their gear or supplies walking around in casual clothes. Most people assumed Sentinels were evil and deadly monsters who only existed to kill, but most were still people. Well, most were… After spending time with Jericho and Spyro she could see why some people would start to see nothing but the armor on Sentinels. She hated to admit it herself, but she was starting to see it that way too. Seeing them again now, walking around in casual clothing reminded herself of the softer side of the Sentinels. Sure, they were more… ruthless then others but that didn't mean they didn't enjoy the normal day to day, or enjoy life like a regular creature.
Well now, this was going to be harder then she thought…
"Well, well, well! If it isn't Cynder!" A dragon walked over to her, roughly her own age and size. He was a trainee, just like her.
"Asimov," Cynder simply relied back, acknowledging his presence. He shook his head, not willing to be dismissed.
"I didn't think you'd come back after Vivex came back alone. You see more action in Savannah? Perhaps a secret mission?"
"No Asimov, I just had… another assignment."
"Come on, there's got to be more to it then that! Vivex makes you part of his personal group and you don't get any special missions? Man, the rest of us get shit assignments!"
"Well then you're lucky."
"Lucky? Come on, you got to learn from Vivex! That's as lucky as it gets. Come on, what was Savannah like?"
She sighed, closing her eyes. Asimov, along with a lot of other trainees housed here were very jealous of the fact that she got to train under Vivex himself. For a time, she was proud of that. Now? Well, she almost felt ashamed by it, betrayed. Just… thinking of what happened to her back there, back in Savannah… how she was left behind by Vivex and abandoned by her kind… It made her internally grit her teeth.
"It was… alright. City's in shambles, like everywhere else. It wasn't anything special."
"That's not what I heard. I think Hirrap's group went there last year, and she talked about a city that was half flooded, and the other not. Deep in the city's center there's this large sinkhole, with a sprawling marketplace at its base! I think she said there's supposed to be an old reactor hidden under there that those gorillas use for power. You didn't get to see any of that?"
"Yeah, I did. It was alright, I guess."
"Alright, you guess? Come on, something happen?" His voice went from his usual charismatic tone to a little more concerned. Her look didn't help any of that, she probably looked sad or angry recounting what happened. She just shook her head, not wanting to dig any deeper.
"No, it's alright. I just had a long journey back here. Is Vivex here? I need to see him."
Asimov gave her a skeptical look before looking back over to a large building towards the back of their sector. It was an old church, used by the Sentinels as their de facto command building. It was usually where Vivex was.
"I don't think he's here right now. Even if he was, you know how hard it is to get a hold of him… Even if you are part of his personal trainee squad."
"Do you know where he is?"
"I think he's up north on official business. I think he's actually supposed to return soon though so you might be in for some luck."
"Thanks Asimov, I need to go." She started walking over to the Cathedral, hoping that she'd be able to catch Vivex when he returned.
"Hey wait up Cynder! I got a lot of time off today, I've been meaning to ask you if we could spar together! I know you're top of our class in elemental ability, and I was just… wondering if you could show me some of your abilities." He chased after her a bit, stopping just behind her. She looked down at the ground, thinking of something to say. Every step she took, she was reminded more about the Sentinel life she had left behind here, all the different little facts… little nuisances…
"Maybe… maybe some other time Asimov, I just…"
"Hey Cynder, if you need time to rest and talk I got it. If you ever want to just relax and talk with someone I'm always around." He turned, walking away back towards the trainee barracks. She sighed and continued walking towards the cathedral. They had been friends on and off, as much as some of the other recruits within their ranks. He was a show off at times, sometimes arrogant but he did have a soft spot down there. All the trainees had that, a lot more then the seasoned soldiers. They still had their innocence, something the older soldiers had lost. She smirked a little inside, getting the feeling that he had some sort of crush on her. He probably did, but at the moment, she didn't want any of that. She just wanted to confront Vivex before she had her mind changed.
As she walked closer to the cathedral, she passed more faces she recognized from the older soldiers to more of the trainees in her group. Some waved to her, others ignored her. She was used to that.
"Hey Cynder, glad you're back! You hear the news?" One of the trainees asked as they passed her.
"No, what news?"
"There's some big deployment that's going to happen soon! There's a lot of activity in the north, I think that's where Vivex is right now. There's supposed to be a whole other division coming to the east!"
"A whole other division? This place can't hold that many people."
"That's what I thought too! Maybe we're opening another base? If we did that'd be so cool!"
"Yeah it would. Any idea when Vivex is getting back?"
"I think he's on his way now, but it might be a few more hours before he gets here."
"Thanks, I've got to run." Cynder said, quickly bolting towards the cathedral. The others looked at her confused for a moment before shrugging it off.
An entire division… Now that, was very curious news. That would almost triple the amount of soldiers here overnight if that was true. Perhaps it was at the hidden facility to the north? She knew it was large, but not that large… While the Sentinels maintained this base here to help them with small operations here, they never had any… combat strength. They didn't have the capacity to wage actual war here. With a new division, that would change. She hoped that she'd be able to catch Vivex at all…
She finally arrived at the Cathedral, walking passed all the armed guards who stood watch over this place. The building was unlike many of the other Forger structures here. It was far more ornate, old world style. It reminded the Sentinels of the old pictures they had seen in the books of the old gothic style that humanity once used. It was what they based their own architecture off of, and this cathedral impressed them. It's probably why they kept it around, and used it for their own purposes.
Inside it was bustling with activity. The large main room was filled with various Sentinels, walking up and down the main aisle. Long rows of chairs lined the massive room, all facing an alter at the back. This was an old church, an old cathedral. Well, as old as it could be. This was where humanity gathered to worship their God before the war. Statues of their "angels" lined the wall, left intact by the Sentinels whom had found the statues rather intriguing. A story of good and evil, of angels and demons, it was something that found some interest within the Sentinel ranks. Old human ideals and thoughts were largely banned in Sentinel territories, yet old human tales such as this, or even pre-war designs and some resemblance of their culture were finding ways into Sentinel life anyway…
She walked into the main room, walking passed a few Sentinels who had gathered around the door, talking amongst themselves. In the back, she could see the alter where Vivex sat and administered the base from. The rows of chairs and pews had been repurposed as a sort of "meeting" area for higher level Sentinel commanders. Today the seats were largely empty, though there was still a lot of activity from Sentinels walking around the alter and through the back rooms. It was just a regular day here… just as before. She almost bumped into a rather tall dragon anthro whom stood near the pews. He was one of the guards for the cathedral.
"You need something trainee?" He asked Cynder.
"I'm here to see Vivex. I'm one of his trainees, Cynder."
"Ah yes, Cynder I remember you… Vivex isn't here right now. You may go to your barracks and wait for Vivex to return." He pointed towards one of the side rooms on the left wall. She nodded to the guard and preceded to her room, wishing she could have gone straight to the alter. Either way, she was kind of excited to return to her personal bunk. It had been quite… a while since she had left it. In her mind, it was as good as returning home. She entered the darkened room, seeing the soft and dimly silhouetted outlines of beds that resided within. The room wasn't that big, but large enough to house a few trainees. When Vivex first started taking apprentices, it was decided they'd stay here, in the Cathedral with him. It was here where Cynder had stayed most of her time here in the east. Walking through the dim room, she could see the faint outline of a human woman wearing a long dress that covered her entire body- even her head. It stood exactly where she remembered it, her two pale eyes still staring vacantly out towards Cynder. It almost creeped her out every time she looked at the statue. She obviously had some sort of religious significance, but Cynder was clueless to her identity. The statue stood exactly in-between her bunk, and another one that resided next to it. There were three bunks in the room, all three belonging to three different trainees. Last Cynder remembered, there were only two others and herself. One was a wolf from the northwest while another was a bear anthro, very tough and reliable. They weren't here right now, though Cynder was used to that. While they were a "squad" they rarely worked with one another. Vivex liked to take one of them out at a time. Right now, it looked like he had taken both of them out, which was unusual. Cynder frowned at that, wondering what kind of mission they were on. Since they were usually only taken out one at a time, Cynder felt as though their "comradery" wasn't as strong as it could be. While they were somewhat friends with each other, it always felt like Vivex was isolating them from each other during combat.
She walked over to her bed and sat on it, staring out at the door as the waning light of the evening was filtering in. A small electric light switched on in the room, giving some illumination now. She sighed, wondering how long she was going to have to wait. She felt so… anxious. It didn't help that she was now alone in the room, unsure what to do or how to spend her time while she waited. She took in a deep breath before standing up and leaping off of the bed. Perhaps she could do something to spend her time…
Perhaps some sparing? She stopped for a moment, remembering Asimov's request. Maybe she would take him up on the offer, some sparing would be nice… and it would be nice to have a partner. She stopped though, and thought to herself. Would it be helpful? After all that time she'd spent with Jericho and Spyro, she felt so ready to be done with the Sentinels. She felt so ready to absolve herself of them and be with the others. She felt more natural there… more open… Still, these were her people, and people like Asimov kept reminding her there were still good people within their ranks as well. She almost felt bad, that he was within their ranks along with the others… so willing and ready to become Sentinels like she was. At one point, it was all she could think of doing. Now, she didn't want any part of it… If she did leave, and go with the others she'd feel guilty for leaving them behind. She felt like she'd be betraying them, on a much more personal level…
Yeah, maybe she could use the time to spar with Asimov. Maybe something else could come out of it, more then she could think of at the moment.
/Transitioning…/
[Done]
"Too far left!" Cynder shouted, bringing her claws to impact on Asimov's side. He grunted, and leapt back. She'd got him, again.
"Damn, that's two to four…" He said, rubbing his jaw. Cynder smirked, returning to her position. They stood within the training dojo meant for the trainees. It was nothing compared to the proper dojo meant for the soldiers, but it was enough for them. A few others were in there with them, engulfed in their own training sessions.
"One more and I'll win this match, you have to keep up Asimov."
"Well sorry, I wasn't trained by the best," he said, returning to his position. They stood, looking at each other from ten feet away, ready to strike.
"Ready?" She asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Ready, go for it. Bring it on!"
Cynder leapt forward, initiating their session. Asimov darted to the left, staying away from Cynder. She watched his movements, keeping track of everything he did. She darted forward and he moved left. She moved backwards to cut off his path of attack, forcing him to the right. She stopped and immediately pivoted to go forward and get behind him, which forced him to turn around and face her again. It was a game of cat and mouse, with none of them giving the other an opening. It was all about who struck and hit first… Whomever landed the first clean hit would be victorious, and it meant the other would be vulnerable. It was all about the first strike, and getting the opponent subdued in as little time as possible. A clean and effective first strike would make that task all the more easy…
Cynder decided to act first and leapt forward as if to strike at Asimov once she got close enough. He leapt back, reacting to her attack. She didn't follow through, immediately backing away and darting quickly to the left behind he could completely recover from his dodge. She was over him in little time, quickly getting to his side. She didn't think he'd be ready, but he did manage to surprise her. He changed his footing and brought his own claws to strike her once she got too close. It was then that she did a quick roll, avoiding his attack and striking him on the side with her tail.
He cursed and fell to the ground. It was over, she had landed the first hit again.
"Damn it! Another match lost. One of these days, it'll be me, beating you!" He said, getting up.
"One day… but not today." She said, smirking.
"Yeah, well when we both become Sentinels, I'm going to be the best. You hear me? I'm going to be the best…" He smiled, his usual confident and cocky self coming through. As cocky as it was, it had a certain charm Cynder had to admit. Cynder frowned at his statement though, and she looked down at the ground.
"You really think so?" She asked lowly.
"Yeah, I'm certain of it. Don't you?"
"What?"
"Don't you want to become the best Sentinel too? I know you used to talk about that all the time…"
She didn't respond at first, rather she looked away from the dragon. He cocked an eyebrow at her before she responded.
"Yeah. I guess I did, didn't I?" She chuckled softly, turning to face him again.
"I'm surprised you're not one already. I would have thought you'd be in this latest batch of recruits graduating."
"You weren't either?"
"No, our group was looked over because of lack of training. We'll have to wait another few months and catch that group that graduates. I'm ready for it though."
"Are you?"
"What? Am I ready, of course I am! I've wanted this all my life! Same with everyone else here, we're all anxious… There's a big battle coming and we can all feel it! I don't want to miss this for anything."
"Why? Why are you so ready to do battle, why so ready to become a Sentinel?"
He frowned at her, a little put off by her questioning.
"Why? Come on now Cynder, don't act like you don't want this either. Sentinels bring balance to a world without order. We're going to create a new world from these ruins, and I want to be part of that. You, out of all of us here, talked about that."
"I did… I wanted to become a Sentinel so badly because I wanted to help reunite the world, create something better from the ashes."
"That's what I believe in too, that's what you taught all of us. We all listened and looked up to you. You sound like you're so full of doubt now Cynder, what happened to you?"
"I saw a lot of the world out there when I was traveling. Tell me Asimov, do you honestly believe we're doing good out here?" She turned to him, her voice full of genuine concern. He was taken aback at first, unsure how to respond.
"Out here? I mean… I'm certain not everything we do is the best morally, but in the long run it's going to free these people. They live in dark ages compared to what's possible. With effort, and with the right force behind us we can truly create a better world for everyone. Better then Humanity's even."
"Yeah, that does sound like something we Sentinels would say…" She turned around and looked out towards the dojo entrance. She could see the Cathedral from here, its tall bell tower dominating the skyline.
"It sounds like stuff you used to say… I want to do this Cynder because I feel that this is right. This is right for everyone. At least… I hope it is…" He looked down at the ground now too, sensing the cloud of doubt flowing from Cynder. She turned back and looked at him, a soft frown on her face.
"I just want to do what's right Asimov. I hope that you'll do the same." She started walking towards the exit, leaving the dragon standing and looking at her with a blank stare. She said what she wanted to say, at least to someone who'd listen. For all his charismatic and sometimes boisterous nature, Asimov was one to listen and think carefully. As much as he sounded like he was following blind ideology like the rest of them, he could sit and listen to reason. It was comforting to Cynder to know that, but it also worried her. How many more people like Asimov were there who hadn't seen much of the other side, or at least thought about what they were doing? They had based all their ideas off of what they were told, what was taught to them. Being out here in this world, having listening to a human, she came to realize not all of what the Sentinels taught was true. It also began to shake away the very core of what she was taught, and made her rethink everything she had done, and everything they were doing. In the name of order, and progress they were going to invade the east to "liberate" them. How liberating would it be to subjugate them? Even if "order and progress" came, would it even be all that they had hoped for? For a time, it was what she believed, that even through force and immoral actions they could do great good for the world. Now, she doubted that very statement.
/Transitioning…/
[Done]
It was more then a few hours before Vivex had returned from the north, and was ready to see Cynder. She had spent much of her time waiting, and contemplating what she'd say or do when she saw him again. After seeing all the others again, after seeing her 'home,' so to speak she was… a little more then hesitant. She was reminded of all the things she had believed in, and was even beginning to absorb the natural atmosphere as she had before. She felt herself slipping back into her old routines… her old thoughts. It was easy, now that she was surrounded by so many familiar faces. When she spoke to Vivex, would she so easily tell him no? Would she be able to maintain herself or act rationally? Was she even still going to abide by her plan to follow Spyro? She was here, at the Sentinel base… it would be so easy just to stay…
A large anthro dragon by the name of Liatus, Vivex's personal guard, lead her back into the cathedral, the area having emptied as the night overtook the city. There were only a few people standing in the cathedral, though she could see Vivex, resting at the end of the hall. Vivex was a large dragon, but not too large. He had never been a large dragon in stature, but he was definitely a full adult dragon. His scales were dark, but not completely black. They were more charcoal in color, like ash. Blue patterns ran along his body, accenting his primary dark colors. Vivex was a… rare breed of dragon. He was a fire dragon, but not a complete fire dragon. He was a blue fire dragon, a strange hybrid that had arose in recent years. He was feral, unlike many of the other Sentinels here. He also didn't wear as much armor as the others, only two shoulder pads with a small cape that draped on either side of his large shoulders. They bore the insignia of their Master, telling that he was one who bore his will in this land. His face was soft in its features, but it got more jagged the farther along his neck you went. A golden collar rested on his neck, with a soft purple gemstone resting inside. He had two piercing blue eyes, that trained themselves to her.
At that moment, she couldn't help but feel hate and anger for what he had done to her. Yet… she couldn't keep it. He had treated her so well… so warmly all these years… She couldn't hold resentment against him for too long, but she knew what he had done. She kept reminding herself of that, wanting to be able to stand on this point, but she couldn't help but feel herself slip through the cracks.
As they got closer, she could see a small smile crawl onto his face. She couldn't tell if he was truly happy to see her… or if it was something else… She took in a deep breath as she continued. She saw him wave his arm, dismissing the others who were in the room.
"Well now, isn't this a lovely surprise?" Vivex said, walking from his chair to the edge of the platform. She tried to avoid eye contact as they walked up, but inevitably her gave met his. They both stopped a few feet in front, standing at the edges of the seats. Cynder frowned as she looked up at him.
"I could say the same thing..." Cynder said lowly, unable to look him in the eyes. She was nervous, very nervous... Vivex gave her a look over before smiling, his body opening up a bit as he appeared to be relaxed, inviting... almost fatherly.
"Well, welcome home Cynder. I assume you've got questions, about Savannah no doubt."
"Why'd you leave me there? Why sell me out to those pigs? Was I just a pawn this whole time?" She asked, getting right to the point. Vivex smiled at her before it faded into a frown. He started to pace back and forth, turning his head to face her every now and again.
"Oh Cynder... I'm certain you'd be unwilling to accept any apology I have. I am deeply sorry it came to that. I did not want to have to put you in that situation... Our Master was very interested in the gangs and seats of power within Old Savannah. A small city yes, no military power but sitting at an important juncture. A promise of allies there would be very helpful to our cause. I didn't want to resort to that, but the leader's cousin was very insistent... he had a thing for you."
"That much I know... the pervert..."
"Indeed."
"Why not sell something else, give something else?"
"They did not desire anything else. I sense deep political rifts within them, the leader was clearly appeasing some family grudge by only wanting you for his cousin."
She grit her teeth, unwilling to accept that answer.
"Then why do it at all... I trusted you, and the Sentinels."
"And I deeply regret ever doing that to you my dear. Besides, it appears that you have overcome that and found your way back here to us. You know the real reason I decided to relent and give you?"
"Why?"
"Because I knew you'd find a way out of it. I knew you were too resourceful to let them take advantage of you. I wondered how well you'd do, and if you would be capable of escaping on your own."
She still growled at that, looking down at the stage.
"You say that as if you knew what I'd have to do to survive. Why take the deal, knowing I'd escape and ruin the alliance?"
"While the Master desires alliances I believe in something else. I don't expect the Master will agree but I think what came of it might be more valuable then aligning with those thugs. Finding and identifying capable assets is how we will grow and expand, not relying on rabble to do our bidding. There will be other ways to appease them, I'm sure. I was curious about you, young Cynder. What were you capable of? What could you do?" He smiled at her, stopping and facing her directly now. She... didn't know how to respond to that. This whole time she had been expecting to walk in and challenge him directly, but she was now unsure of what to do, what to say.
"This is bullshit…" She finally said, shaking her head.
"Look, I know you're angry Cynder but take my word on it. I would not have done it if I didn't expect you'd be able to find your way out. From the beginning I've always seen great promise in you young one. I believe though in order to find it, you have to be put through great stress and great anxiety. I thought this might be the perfect time for such an occasion. Clearly you have succeeded, and come back to us. Truly you are worthy of your Sentinel rank."
She looked at the floor, still unsure of what to say. She finally looked up a bit, trying not to appear as weak, or on the verge of emotional distress.
"I see... "
Vivex looked at her for a few more moments before smirking somewhat, turning to once again pace back and forth.
"So to that end, I do not believe punishment is in order for breaking the order, you received no order, therefore you never broke it. Let that sit on the record. I believe you, candidate Cynder are worthy of becoming a Sentinel. You have clearly proven you have what it takes to survive out in the world, and perform difficult and strenuous tasks. To that end, I believe something special is in order."
"What would that be, sir?" She bit her lip, cursing herself as she told herself she'd NEVER call him 'sir' again or show him respect. Now, here she was again... She felt herself… falling into old habits, into old routines that she thought she had forgotten.
"I believe you're not fit for standard front like tasks, I believe you are more worthy of becoming a member of our elite Special Tasks Regiment. Amongst them, you will be doing special missions tied directly to the benefit of our Master and his goals. I already have a mission in mind for you."
"I am ready, sir." She bit her lip again, but decided to play along for the moment. Perhaps, she'd be able to use this as an opportunity to help slip Spyro and the others out of the city, an opportunity to work both sides... for the moment. At least, that's what she hoped she'd be able to do…
"Good, I knew you'd be. There was a Special Tasks group in Savannah at the time of our meeting. They were on a very top secret and vital mission in fact. Unfortunately, they failed in their task. Which is where you come in."
"Me? What was their mission?"
"They were pursuing a human, who was fleeing a small network of villages in Ohio. He was carrying something very important, something our Master desires very much."
Cynder visibly swallowed, and felt her heart rate increase. He didn't even have to clarify anymore, she knew exactly who he was talking about. She tried to remain calm, not give herself away. He… wasn't talking about… Jericho was he? No, no he wasn't.
"What could... a human have that our master would covet?"
"A small pre-war computer device called a USB. It contains secrets and stolen information, which our Master would like back. This is so important that he has tasked me with its retrieval, as well as the death of the human. The squad in Savannah encountered him but found he was well protected, and had found himself allies. He fled north in an old military helicopter. Beyond that we were unable to track him. We believe he is heading north, possibly to the old Forbidden Zone and the ruins of New York City."
"You… do you think he'd try to pass through here?"
"My thoughts precisely. We haven't had any sightings of his helicopter so we can only presume he's ditched it and is working his way north on foot. There is... also another development that makes this mission all the more important to us."
"What might that be?"
"In Savannah, our scouts came in contact with something. Something very interesting indeed. It was a dragon, a very special dragon at that."
"What… dragon might they have found that would peak such… interest?"
Vivex smiled at her comment, looking away for a moment before shaking his head softly.
"He is a purple dragon. A rare beast indeed, and one of great value to our Master."
"A… purple dragon?" Her heart sank at those words, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. Vivex didn't see her look, he was busy looking the other way. He was… talking about Spyro… He was talking about both Jericho and Spyro… Was he wanted by them? Did Spyro know about this already? She already knew Jericho was hunted… but Spyro too? Did he hide this from her…? Why didn't they tell her…? She'd have never come back if she knew that… She put them in huge risk by bringing them here…
"But Vivex, I don't understand…"
"Of course not. It isn't something we typically discuss amongst the lower ranks. In fact I doubt many really know his significance. Only those who need to know, do. Now you will be amongst those who need to know." He turned, facing her again. "Purple dragons are a very rare breed, as we've never found any other like him. He is truly, a unique specimen. Why, you ask? A purple dragon is unique, not so much because of the color of his scales, but of what he can do… Unlike most dragons, a purple dragon can breathe element he desires, as well as use powerful abilities only available to him. Some say, he can even change the world. Old rumors, whispers say the coming of a purple dragon foretells the changing of the world. We would very much like for that change to be on our side. Needless to say, if a purple dragon has surfaced, our Master is very interested to meet him."
"I s-see…"
"There is even more information. We have reason to believe that this purple dragon has aligned himself with the human during their contact in Savannah, and eluded capture by our forces. We believe the both of them are traveling north as we speak. We've even had a scout's report that says they may be nearing Baltimore, or even reside in the city already. They're traveling with two other dragons the scout was unable to identify. If the purple dragon is here, then the human is likely to be with him. I believe it is fitting that you would arrive now… This is your task: retrieve the USB device from the human, and bring the purple dragon here, to me. Whatever that human has told him may align him against us, it is up to you and me to convince him otherwise."
"I… I understand, sir." She said, bowing her head. She clenched her eyes, picturing Jericho and Spyro. She… she was being tasked with their capture. She… she couldn't do that to them. No… but now she was in even deeper. He hadn't punished her for what she did in Savannah, but what would he do to her if she didn't comply? She was certain that they'd never let her leave for New York. Even if she did… what then…?
"I would hope that you do. You may set out at once, I don't expect for them to linger. Capture them before they get too far out of our grasp. I would assign more to help you, but we're currently undermanned here. Many of our forces are elsewhere, gathering for another assignment."
"I understand, sir. I will not fail you…" She bowed again, backing up to begin leaving. Vivex returned the bow, and waited for her to leave down the aisle before calling to her.
"Succeed, and The Master might even ask for your help on missions personally."
She turned to face him, a look of astonishment on her face. He only gave her a smile in return, one of great expectation. She looked down at the floor before going forward again, not wanting to waste a moment. As soon as she left the large wooden doors that served as the barrier between him and the world, she began to go into a dead sprint. She didn't know where she was going, but she just wanted to get away from the cathedral as fast as she could. She ran past Sentinel guards who watched her, feeling as though their eyes were watching her, judging her. It was as if they already knew what she was up to, but that was impossible. Yet, she could just feel their eyes… as if she was already guilty of a tremendous crime. Perhaps, she was.
She reached the gates of the sector, stopping for a moment to catch her breath. She turned, seeing the cathedral standing in the background. In the moonlight, it looked menacing to her. It… frightened her. Vivex frightened her. She was unsure what to do… where to go… What would she tell Spyro? Would she even try to look for him? Would she warn him? How would she even know where to go to find him? Either way, he was in grave danger… they all were.
She felt so… confused, angry. Spyro was wanted by the Sentinels… as was Jericho, and now she was tasked with hunting them down. They were in danger… and she wanted to help them, yet part of her felt so angry. She felt so angry about her situation, about being placed at the crossroads between the Sentinels and her friends… She just wanted a side to fight for and even as she thought she had found it… something was off… She felt so strange, so anxious. Even after all of this, she thought she was so ready to be done with the Sentinels, but now she felt so unsure, so… uneasy… Yes she was afraid of Vivex now, but she had never felt so… right when she accepted that mission. She also felt angry… that perhaps Spyro knew that he was wanted and hid it from her. Did he not trust her? Did he not think she would help them if it came to that? Jericho had finally divulged why he was traveling, which had confounded her for so long! Were there other things they hadn't told her yet?
She felt so anxious, confused, her mind was so foggy… Why couldn't she think straight? She needed to go away, go away from all of this. She turned back to the gate, motioning to the guard to let her out. He obliged, opening the door and letting her go through. She darted into the darkness and onwards to the heart of Baltimore. Whatever she felt, however she felt… she did need to find Spyro. Whatever she did next, was going to be critical…
/Transitioning…/
[Done]
"Man, you should have SEEN it Spyro!" Flame exclaimed, rolling in his bed. Spyro smirked, watching his friend sitting on his bed. They had found him a little while ago, and brought him to the inn that Barely had recommended. They told him of their wild adventure at the tavern… and that Flame had drank! Spyro was wondering why Flame was… happier than normal. That was saying a lot considering that Flame was always the bouncy type. Now, it was just silly.
"I'm surprised you guys weren't arrested! How many guys did Jericho get?" Spyro asked.
"At least like… five, maybe six! It was hard to tell."
"It wasn't that many." Jericho said, sitting on a bed further in the room. Spyro turned to look at the human. He sat on his bed, which was located right up against the wall. A single circular window gave them a view of the outside world, and Jericho's head was fixed to it. Spyro wondered if Jericho thought they might have been followed to the inn. He seemed a little on edge now that they were actually in Baltimore. Perhaps it was the proximity to the Sentinels.
"Nah man, you took them out!" Flame bounced on his bed, which caused a few of the pillows to fall to the floor, bringing Flame down with them. He gave a low grunt as he hit the ground, making Spyro laugh. His laugh turned into a frown as he remembered about Cynder.
"No word on Cynder?"
"Not that we've seen. We haven't seen her since we arrived in the city." Jericho said, turning to Spyro. Spyro looked at the floor, wondering what might have happened to her. It had been quite a few hours since they arrived in Baltimore, at least five or so. Surely she'd have met with Vivex by now, and whatever might have happened to her… happened already. Would she be waiting for them on the other side, waiting to go with them to New York? Spyro hoped that she'd be able to… and wouldn't get trapped here with the Sentinels. There was no telling what they might do to her…
"If we don't see her before dawn, we'll have to leave without her. There's a gate, in the northern part of the city. It's sealed off, but Barley says there's a tunnel that can take us under the wall. That's our way north. We have to use the cover of dark to slip passed the guards though, so you guys should rest up. We'll set off just before sunrise."
"We can't just leave Cynder though, we have to give her some time." Spyro said, standing off of his bed.
"Look Spyro, I know that you want to wait for her, but I need to get away from the Sentinels as fast as possible. My cover was almost blown at the tavern last night. We won't be able to wait around for her forever. This might be one of our only chances to slip out of the city undetected by the guards and Sentinels." Jericho turned to Spyro, a firm but solemn look on his face. Spyro could tell the decision hurt him as well. They'd all grown on each other, and Spyro wondered how long they'd survive without all of them there for each other. They had all carried one another from his home town to here. It was thanks to all of them, not just one or two of them. It was true, that they all needed each other to survive. Without Cynder… well Spyro hated to think how the group might deteriorate. Still, Jericho was right. This might be one of the last chances they'd get to leave Baltimore in one piece…
"Alright…" Spyro said reluctantly.
"I'm sorry Spyro. Maybe she will be waiting for us on the other side of the wall." Jericho turned around, sitting back on his bed and looking out the window. Flame let out a soft sigh and looked at Spyro, who didn't divert his gaze from the floor. The sounds of Barley's snore was the only sound that filled the room, the mouse having already fallen asleep a few minutes prior to now.
"Maybe he's right. Maybe she will be waiting for us Spyro." Flame said silently, hoping to cheer up his friend.
"Maybe. We'll just have to see Flame." Spyro used his paws to slowly lift the covers to the bed, slipping in. Some rest might do him well, and it would help give him the strength they would need tomorrow. They'd have to get passed the Sentinels, the Baltimore guards, and then it was the untamed wilds… This would be it. This is what they had come here for, and Spyro was still determined to see it through to the end. Still though… he felt hesitant. It was the same feeling one got when they stood at the edge of the door, unsure whether to go outside or stay within their home. They were on the edge of a precipice, and Spyro had no idea what was beyond his doorway. He closed his eyes, hoping to get some sleep.
Flame watched his friend before doing the same, still a little woozy from the beer he had earlier. He deeply regretted the few gulps he had taken, and swore he'd never do it again. Jericho was the last to fall asleep, staying up watching the street for at least another half hour. Soon, all were tucked away in their beds, the inn falling silent.
/Transitioning…/
[Done]
Darkness… it was swirling all around him. Shouting, screaming, loud bangs… he could hear it all. It was just as before, it was all so familiar to him. Was it happening again? If so, where did he even begin? Where did he start? How could he begin to comprehend what he was seeing, what was happening?
He focused, trying so hard to pick a point, start there. He just needed to focus… focus…
A person, he could see a person. Who was it? It looked… human! It looked human! Was it Jericho? He wore gear like Jericho, in fact it looked so similar to what Jericho wore. Ammo pouches, a ballistic vest, helmet and gear… it was a soldier. His face wasn't like Jericho's it was different. Yet, there was something familiar about this human, something that made him immediately think of Jericho.
The man was standing somewhere… but where? Spyro focused, trying to see what it was… It was the inside of a helicopter, yes that's it. It was the inside of an old Forger helicopter, but it looked to be running, flying. He could see clouds outside some of the windows, passing the vehicle up as it barreled through the sky. Where was it going? Spyro wasn't able to get his answer, there was activity all around. More people came into focus, soldiers just like the first man. They all stood up, putting on helmets, securing their gear, loading their weapons. They were going into battle, that much was certain. The man from before looked to be in charge, saying things that Spyro could not hear to the other soldiers. They listened carefully, all standing in single file. The back of the helicopter opened, revealing open sky to its interior. One by one the humans disappeared out of the back, fading away into the clouds themselves. The man was the last to go out, leaping out of the back and fading all with the rest. Spyro wanted to follow, see where they were going… yet Spyro couldn't move.
This wasn't like the others… it wasn't like the other visions. He couldn't move… he could just… watch. All he could do was watch. The scene changed and the image faded and was replaced with another. He could see… something ahead of him, inside of a long, dark hallway. It looked like…
Cynder? Cynder!
Spyro turned his head urgently, sure that he had seen her in the distance. Was she here? No, she wasn't… Spyro could have SWORN he had seen her! It was dark, all around him. What was all this… more dreams? Spyro sighed, wishing he knew what all of this was trying to tell him. The world felt… washy. It was very unlike the dreams, or visions he was used to by this point. It was neither here, nor there… Well, whatever that meant.
He caught another glimpse of her walking down another hallway, catching his attention.
"Cynder!" He called out to her, quickly moving so he could catch her fading form. Why was she here? Wasn't she visiting Vivex? What was all of this, these winding hallways? He continued chasing the black form until he saw her form fading off in the distance, amongst a brilliant white light. He raced towards the light, trying to find out where she was going… where she was and where he was.
He burst forth from the light, finding himself in a massive room. It was… the room from before. This room, Spyro had seen, many times already. This circular room, filled with machinery along its walls, braces and struts all circled around this large platform in the center… This is where he had seen those eyes, those terrifying eyes… The room was empty now, the only activity he could see were some dim electric lights humming in the background.
Spyro stood along the edge of the room, looking from side to side, trying to see whatever it was he was meant to see. He could… sense something… something big.
A form appeared at the far end of the room, stepping up onto the large platform. It walked towards the center and held itself there. It was a dragon, a rather large one at that. It was… a dragon, that much he could see… Who was this dragon?
The dragon just stood there in the center of the platform, his color and features obscured by darkness. Even so, there was something about the dragon that felt… very strange about him. It almost felt familiar, as if he could feel something very similar coursing through that dragon. What might it be…?
The dragon opened its eyes, two piercing yellow eyes now looking straight towards Spyro. Could he see Spyro? Was this another dream where he could interact with the world, or was he just yet another passive watcher?
The dragon sat there in silence before his body began to give a soft blue glow, one that slowly started to engulf the room. Four large struts which Spyro first thought were that, struts, suddenly came to life, circling the platform that the dragon stood upon. Spyro watched in awe as the energy flowed softly from the dragon throughout the room, dancing around the struts that seemed to draw power from it.
What was this…? What was this he was watching…?
Suddenly, and without warning, a massive beam of energy shot down from the sky, shattering the roof. The roof exploded, revealing the dark sky beyond, and letting the powerful blue beam of energy in. It impacted the dragon head on, the energy exploding all around! Blue energy coursed everywhere, pulsing and bending whatever it touched. The dragon maintained his posture, his two piercing eyes slowly closing and his head rising. His body glowed more and more as the beam cast a shadow onto him. The energy in the room just began to explode, overwhelming Spyro's senses.
The dragon slowly began to fade away, a sphere of pure energy now taking his place. The amount of raw power flowing from it was so intense, it was unlike anything Spyro could have ever imagined! Something… something was happening in the center of the beam, something… incredible! Bright green and yellow lights began to slowly flow over the intense blue sphere, and lightning soon began to arc itself from it as well. The lightning reached out, striking the walls, the machinery and the floor, looking for any way to discharge the energy coming forward. Spyro squinted, trying to look directly into the sphere, see what on Earth was happening there.
He could see the silhouette of the dragon, standing calmly in the center, as if he was the master of the energy cascading around him. Flashes and images of a strange world began to blow through Spyro's head. Images of forests and mountain ranges that seemed to strange and alien began to flow through his head. They were so foreign to him… so strange! Black forms of creatures began to form in those scenes, piercing purple and yellow eyes slowly beginning to dominate their forms. It was as if the absolute power of the beam's impact was… creating a bridge to this strange world! Strange and absolutely fantastic things were happening here… all in the epicenter of this room. Beyond it all, those two… piercing yellow eyes just continued to stare at Spyro… Spyro gulped, backing up as the energy continued to flow around him. Those eyes… he could feel those eyes… why did they burn? It burned! It burned so badly!
Figures and forms started to emerge from the sphere, as if born from this merging of two worlds! Spyro continued to back up, feeling as though the power from those eyes were going to burn him alive if he didn't leave! It was so… painful! He could hear a scream, a scream coming from somewhere, yet everywhere! Where was it? Who was it from? Why did it hurt!
It then dawned on him, it was Cynder! Cynder was screaming! Those bright, yellow eyes filled his vison again, their gaze dominating everything. The scream grew louder and louder, as did the vision's gaze. Eventually they blinded all else out, and Spyro's eyes shot open.
He sat up, panting heavily. He was back in the inn. He hadn't moved an inch from his bed, unlike the other visions where he'd physically move. Was it all a dream then? These visions, they were different from the others... He was able to move, explore the environment in those, but in these he was locked, like watching the scene from afar. It was as if he was being dictated to what he should, or shouldn't, be watching.
He continued to breathe in deep, trying to collect himself. The man… the dragon… that… place… They seemed so important to him, yet Spyro was at a complete loss to interpret what any of it was telling him. There had to be more to this… more that Spyro could not yet see. He'd just have to wait… until more of those secrets were revealed to him. Still, why was he seeing these visions…? Unlike the others, where he'd take memories from the environment… these seemed so different. It was as if these messages were meant for him, and him only. As if someone was trying to tell him something.
He looked around the room, seeing that everyone was asleep still. What time was it, how long had he been asleep? He glanced around the room, seeing there was an electric clock against the wall. It ticked softly, its hands telling Spyro that it was getting close to midnight. So, he hadn't been asleep long, nor had any of the others.
Spyro then thought of the scream, and of Cynder.
Was she in danger? Those eyes, those piercing eyes... they were doing something to Cynder, something that was hurting her. Was this perhaps what was going to happen to her? Spyro climbed out of his bed, standing on the floor as he began to pace.
He had no idea how things were going with her, and how she'd be treated upon arriving back to the Sentinel's base. Was she going to get punished, or worse...? Spyro at once remembered the words that Horren told him, about the kiss of darkness that all Sentinels received. Was that going to happen to Cynder...? She said she had grown distant from them but would they give it to her, even against her will...?
No. No, Spyro would NOT let them do that to her. He wouldn't see her slip into the darkness, not without a fair fight. He had to find her, see what was happening. With another quick glance he confirmed that everyone was still asleep and proceeded to leave the inn. He had to find out where the Sentinel's base was, and find Cynder. On the way out of the room he picked up his packs and went down the stairs to get back out onto the street.
Once outside he took glances up and down the streets. They were empty, save for a few electric lights that gave soft illuminations to the otherwise dim blue light that the moon gave. Alright... now where in the hell were the Sentinels?
/Transitioning…/
[Done]
He must have walked down the different roads for an hour or so, walking aimlessly from place to place, avoiding gatherings of guards or drunk passerby's. He eventually stopped at a street corner, finding himself at a four way intersection. Now, if he were Sentinels, where would he be...? Perhaps isolated from the rest of the city, maybe along the edge. They were already in the northern fringe of town, away from the tall towers of down town. He looked around the skyline, trying to find any indication of where such a place would be.
He did see something along the low skyline, a distant radio tower by the looks of it, with a blue light softly pulsing. He decided he was going to head in that direction, try and find out what that was first. Street after street he passed, seeing little activity. Signs talked about this street, that street but none gave him concrete ideas of where he was, or where he was going.
Finally, he saw a blue sign with black letters, proudly proclaiming, "SENTINEL ZONE AHEAD, CAUTION." Perfect. He continued down the road, and saw there was a large stone wall erected along a road, sectioning off that part of city. The radio tower he saw from before rested within the walls of the compound, and he could see tall buildings within. Some of them looked Forger while others looked like structures the likes of which Spyro had never seen before. They were likely Sentinel built. Dark stone and metal dominated the design, but blue lights and crystals were embedded into the stone, giving soft glints of light. It was... different from anything he was familiar with.
He followed the wall, seeing signs along the wall announcing that it was indeed, the Sentinel Zone. There were other signs, warning of armed guards and fines for loitering around the zone for too long. It seemed there was indeed distrust between both the Sentinels and the Baltimore guards and people. Nobody trusted each other, and it didn't sound like a very healthy relationship.
He saw Baltimore guards waking along the Protectorate side of the street, patrolling. They were watching Spyro from afar, and it made him uncomfortable. He decided to get off the street bordering the wall, figuring the guards would eventually stop him and ask him why he was walking alongside the Sentinel zone at night by himself. He also figured getting caught by a patrolling Sentinel guard would be just as bad...
He walked from block to block, using the interlacing streets as ways to gaze upon the wall without getting too close. Just from his little peaks and quick views he was able to discern that the zone was large, encompassing several street blocks. It almost looked like a city within a city, since Spyro figured that Baltimore would be very interested in completely isolating the Sentinels to that part of the city. He didn't think the population would appreciate Sentinels roving around the open streets. Not with the way things seemed currently.
Well, if he zone was large, and the walls were too tall for him to leap over, how was he going to get inside? Some of the buildings next to wall were quite tall, being two or even three stories, with floors that were able to peak above the moderately high wall. He wondered if he'd be able to get onto their roofs unseen...
He looked right, then left, seeing if there were any guards around him. Satisfied that there were indeed none, he flapped his wings as quietly as he could, taking to the air and sailing up to the top of the building's third story. He landed on the roof quietly, making himself as small as possible as he slowly moved to the roof's edge.
From here, he could see into the compound. Indeed, it did encompass many street blocks, and there were buildings of all sizes inside the compound. Large buildings that Spyro guessed were barracks stretched an entire side of the compound while other warehouses and structures dominated other parts. Large towers rested at one of the courtyard but one building caught Spyro's attention. There was a really old building sitting at the other end of the compound, which was different from all the others. It looked Forger, but was very different from the other Forger buildings. It was... more ornate, more elaborate and decorated in its facade. Its biggest feature was a tower at the other end that towered above all the others. A bell rested at its top, covered by a slanted wooden roof. Stone brick made up most of its facade and its windows were very large and spacious. It was a very large building, not height wise but in general space it took up. On its apex rested a small cross, barely visible but it was there.
Compared to any of the other buildings, it was easily one of the larger ones. If Spyro had to guess, that was their headquarters. It might also be a good place to start his search...
Now, how to get inside? From here, he could see MANY Sentinels patrolling the inside of the compound. Armed guards walked regular routes, and he could see watchman in towers scattered throughout the area. There were even a fair amount of unarmed Sentinels, walking the perimeter on their way to their own business. How in the hell was he getting to that building?
He sighed, thinking for a moment.
He could fly in, but would be very easily seen. There were guards everywhere, even on the Baltimore side of the wall. He could even see some guards with posts on nearby rooftops, looking out towards the Sentinels.
"Right over here sir, yes, it's pretty discreet." A new voice came in low, getting Spyro's attention. He looked up, seeing a pair of Baltimore guards walking in his direction from across the rooftop. Quickly, he moved from where he was, and took cover behind a large metal box that rested on the roof.
He pushed himself up against the cold metal, hoping the pair would not notice him. Thankfully, they walked up to the edge of the roof and crouched down. One of them bulled out a pair of binoculars and peered out towards the Sentinel compound. They hadn't noticed him… Spyro was about to leave for another place when he felt his curiosity getting the better of him.
"You're certain he's returned?" One of the guards, a blue wolf with thick combat gear asked. His assistant, an anthro fox lowered the binoculars and handed them to the wolf, nodding.
"Yes, we saw him return just earlier. It was from the northwest, from largely unexplored forest."
"Did he have anyone with him?"
"No sir, he came back with his usual group, nobody new."
The wolf put the binoculars to his face before sighing and lowering them again.
"The General is getting restless. Scouts are telling us a massive garrison is moving towards the east, and is set to arrive soon either here, or somewhere else."
"Where else would they have?"
"We think they have a second staging area somewhere to the northwest. If Vivex would hide an army, it'd be there."
"Do you think he'll try to attack Baltimore with that army…?"
The wolf again raised the binoculars and began surveying the courtyard in front of him. He didn't respond for some time, taking the time to examine everything he could see first.
"It's hard to say. A lot of people in command are getting nervous, and suspect either he's going to attack Baltimore soon, or somewhere else."
"What're your orders then?"
"I want the guard tripled here, and keep tabs on any new Sentinels entering the city. We need to be ready for anything the Sentinels try to do. If they deploy anything, and I mean anything, I want quick reaction forces ready to go."
"Yes Captain, you can count on me." The fox stood up and saluted the wolf, who returned it.
An attack? More Sentinels? Things really were moving fast around here… If they didn't slip out of the city fast, they might get caught in whatever was brewing between these two groups. Spyro thought hard, wishing Cynder would hurry up with her meeting, or that these two guys would go away so he could go in himself! If more guards were on the way, then Spyro didn't have a lot of time.
The two soldiers stood there for a moment longer before slowly moving away. Something caught there eye though, forcing them to stop. They were looking at something, and Spyro wished he could see what it was…
"Sir, we've got a Sentinel leaving the compound."
"A Sentinel?"
"Yes sir, just one. It's that Sentinel who entered the city just earlier today!"
The wolf walked back to the edge and pulled the binoculars back to his face. He looked out, watching the small figure leaving the compound.
"I see her… It's one of Vivex's apprentices. She's dangerous, keep an eye on her." He lowered his binoculars and started to walk away. It was then that Spyro caught a glimpse of the wolf's face, seeing that he had a scar running on one of his eyes. It was the soldier from the bridge! Spyro thought he recognized him…
The pair walked away, leaving Spyro alone on the roof. As soon as they disappeared from view, Spyro rushed to the edge of the roof, peering down over its walls. He saw a small figure in the distance, slowly fading away into the black of the city streets. It was Cynder! He had to catch her!
He looked around, making sure no guards were watching before he leapt down from his rooftop hiding place. He glided from building to building, ensuring to keep to the shadows as he saw so many guards walking around up there. He had to find her, he had to warn her! They were all in danger…
As time went on he started to forget about being stealthy and he continued to quickly glide from roof to roof, hoping to find her. Up ahead, he saw a large courtyard with a small park sitting inside of it. He stopped at the roof's edge, hoping to see something below. There, he saw her!
She was standing at the edge of the street, looking in to the small empty park. She looked… lost… dazed and confused. Her head snapped from side to side before she walked into the park.
He took in a deep breath, flapping his wings so he could descend and join her. He landed at the entrance of the park, watching as she melted away into the small thicket of trees that resided in the middle. He trotted in after her, wanting to make sure he didn't lose her.
The park wasn't that large, so it surprised Spyro that he had lost sight of her! There were old rusted human fixtures nearby, such as an old swing or set of metal bars for climbing. In the center were was a small grouping of trees, thick enough that you couldn't see very well into them. It was where she had to be… it's where he saw her enter.
He walked passed the trees, looking around as he didn't see her. The trees were empty, the small space in-between them featuring only a small concrete bench by the looks of it. A bench that time had not been kind to, as it had a large crack in its center, causing half of it to have crumbled apart onto the ground below it. Cynder was not here… where had she gone?
A quick motion came from behind Spyro, causing him to turn sharply. Claws came right at him, and he nearly jumped when he felt a large mass come down from the trees and pin him to the ground. It all happened so quick, so fast that Spyro's next coherent thought was of him on the ground, with a figure perched atop him. It was that of a black dragoness- Cynder.
"C-Cynder!" Spyro said in surprise, seeing her atop him. She looked at him before her eyes went wide.
"Spyro? Spyro!" She hushed her voice, looking as surprised as he did. She immediately loosened her grip, but not completely. She still had him pinned to the ground, unable to move. Her expression went from that of surprised to dismissive.
"Cynder… you can get off of me now…" He said lowly, but he didn't feel her budge for a moment. Her expression didn't change, nor did her posture. "Cynder…?" Spyro asked, concerned now.
She had him, she really had him here. She had pinned him here before her, yet she didn't know what to do now. She had accomplished her mission, hadn't she? She had captured the so called purple dragon, and he now lay here, at her mercy. As a Sentinel, it was her sworn duty to subdue him, and bring him to her Master…
But she wasn't a Sentinel, no, she was still her own dragon.
She slowly got off of Spyro, releasing him finally.
"Sorry about that Spyro… I thought someone was following me…" She said, looking away from him. He rubbed his neck, still feeling her paw there when she had him pinned to the ground.
"Well someone was following you… it was me…"
"What're you doing here Spyro?" She asked, somewhat agitated.
"I came looking for you Cynder. I didn't want to leave you behind… we're going to leave later this morning, and I wanted to make sure you'd be able to follow us."
Cynder stood facing away from him, not saying anything.
"Is there… something wrong Cynder?" Spyro finally asked, sensing something about her. She shook her head while not facing him. Finally she turned, looking at the purple dragon. Her look wasn't warm and inviting, like it had before, nor was it cold and dismissive like the Cynder he knew before that even. This was a Cynder somewhere in the middle, a Cynder who's face spoke of grave concern, yet still holding onto something… Something secret?
"Come on, we've got to get you and Jericho out of the city." She finally said, seeming to shift moods on the fly. Spyro watched as she trotted over to leave the park. Spyro watched her, breathing in deep before slowly going after her.
"Where's Jericho and the others?" She asked, turning back to Spyro.
"Back this way, resting at an inn. I think I remember the way back, come on." Spyro said, raising an arm to show her the way.
"Right, then let's go." She said quickly, offering no explanation for her quick attitude. Had something gone wrong during the meeting? Her lack of… well "positive" emotions was beginning to worry Spyro, or at least paint a picture of what was happening behind the scenes that troubled him. Still… she'd never do anything against them. He trusted her.
They walked in silence for at least half an hour, retracing Spyro's steps back to the inn. Finally, near the end of one of the intersections, Spyro stopped and turned to Cynder.
"So… how'd it go? You meet with Vivex?"
"I did…" She said, turning away a little.
"How'd it go?"
"It went… as… well as I expected it to go. Can I ask you something Spyro?"
"Yeah, go for it."
"Back in your hometown, back in Savannah… you were being chased, weren't you?"
"Chased?"
"By us, Sentinels. Sentinels were hunting you, weren't they?"
Spyro froze in place, looking down for a second before responding.
"I… we were. We… were being hunted back home…"
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you warn me you were wanted by my people?"
"Because… because at first we didn't know if you knew or not… and I didn't even know why they were chasing me! One day the Sentinels show up chasing Jericho, and they point their guns at me. I got no explanation other then I was purple. I was… special to them or something. Nobody's told me anything about who I am, or why people seem to have an interest in me! I… that's why I didn't say anything… about it."
"You guys didn't trust me? You didn't think I could have helped, or at least just… tell me?"
"I did trust you Cynder."
"Then why didn't you tell me? How can I believe that?"
"Because I was the only one to vouch for you coming with us. Jericho wanted nothing to do with you back then, and Flame wasn't too excited about it either… I was the one who said you could be trusted… and when it came to it, we'd let you know piece by piece. I'm sorry we didn't tell you before…"
"You should be sorry!" She yelled, anger in her voice. Spyro looked at her, genuine concern in his eyes as he looked at her.
"They told you about me inside the base, didn't they? Vivex told you about me, right?"
"N-no… I heard some… rumblings in the base about you. There's talk of you… and Jericho. That's why you have to leave the city Spyro."
"That's not all of it, is it?"
"It is!" She yelled back, her breath quickening and her stance becoming more agitated.
"It's alright Cynder, I believe you. I still trust you, if you trust me." He turned around before walking away, heading back in the direction of the inn. Cynder watched him, breathing quickly as she was still tense from the conversation. He still trusted her… and she couldn't trust him… or anyone…
But she could trust him… could they trust her? She wanted to tell him the truth… but she just couldn't bring herself to… She knew she could trust Spyro… deep down. Even if he had withheld that information from her, she knew he did have a reason… She was the one that couldn't be trusted… She did want that trust though… and she wanted to tell Spyro, tell him everything. If she did though, would he trust her? Would any of them trust her? Flame… Jericho… would they trust her? Would they let her come with them, or see her as a liability? She… she didn't want to be left behind… not again. She realized this, as she stood there at the intersection still. Her anger, her fear, her irrationality… she was afraid of being left behind again. She was angry… and was lashing out at Spyro, possibly the only person who she could always trust… because she didn't know what to do.
When she entered the gates of the Sentinel base, she wanted nothing more than to be done with them, and to be with Spyro, but after her talk with Vivex… she was so confused, unsure who to trust or who to truly ally with. Her… former self was coming through, her desire and want to further herself in the eyes of her Master. The opportunity to… truly impress him, be part of his guard and serve him personally… she had to admit the idea sounded so… delightful. She could feel herself slipping back, even after she thought she had been over that. The presence of Vivex, the feeling of being closer to her Master… it felt so… right deep down inside.
"Cynder?" She heard Spyro call out to her from down the road, and she snapped back into reality.
"Oh… coming!" She darted after him, not wanting to keep him waiting. No… she couldn't do that to him. She couldn't betray Spyro for the simple pleasures of serving her Master… She just wouldn't tell him, or Jericho of her mission. She'd slip out with both of them, and Vivex wouldn't be the wiser. She'd be away from it, away from it all. Yes, that's what she'd do.
They would escape, all of them. Together.
End of Chapter 15