Part 3: Mission
i.
It was three days before Hassildor declared himself ready. In that time Shadow had learned to shoot with automatic weapons, but he had also insisted on practicing with a katana, at which he proved to be quite adept.
Lume had demonstrated even to Lark's sceptical satisfaction that the fencing and unarmed combat she had practiced at university were still fresh in her mind. She could hold her own with a sword against Shadow and Rufus, and took them by surprise by using some sneaky tricks borrowed from unarmed combat to swing the odds in her favour even when her opponent outweighed her. She could also shoot well enough that Lark finally admitted grudgingly that she would not be a liability on the mission.
Lark had pulled every string in his considerable arsenal and got them outfitted with the latest in armour, specially designed to be nearly invisible. Covered with 'intelligent' fabric, the armor took on the colour of its surroundings, allowing the wearer to blend in like a chameleon. Lark found it ironic that technology now provided the same function as a simple Chameleon spell once did.
He also requisitioned a number of enchanted items from museum collections. Getting the items was only a problem in the cases where the museum staff were already caught in time bubbles, but Lark's agents soon became adept at picking display case locks.
When Hassildor appeared on the afternoon of the third day, everything was prepared. Lark called his team together and handed out uniforms, armour and jewellery.
"This enhances your speed and agility," he said, giving Lume a ring. "You're already quick; wearing this you should be able to avoid anything aimed your way."
"Awesome," Lume breathed.
To Shadow he gave an amulet. "You already have a shield, and you look like you can take care of yourself in a fight, so I'm giving you something to enhance marksmanship."
Shadow accepted it, grinning. "You've seen my shooting range results."
Lark smiled. "You need all the help you can get."
"Nothing shiny for me?" Hassildor asked when Lark just gave him a uniform and armour.
"I'm sure you have everything you need," Lark said, eyeing the rings already on Hassildor's fingers.
"True," the vampire Count grinned. "So, when do we leave?"
"Now," Shadow said, eager to get going.
"We have to keep something in mind," Lark cautioned. "When we get to Oblivion, Martin's shield will be reduced to 20."
"Actually, it will be closer to 10 then," Hassildor interrupted. "Shared between the two of them."
"Of course," Lark said. "So we'd better time it so that we get there when Martin is left alone. That will also help us out: less fighting to do."
Shadow shook his head. "I don't think we have to worry too much about that." At Lark's enquiring look, he explained. "They've not been so eager to attack Martin for the last two days. Martin thinks they they're discouraged by their lack of success, but also that they have other things to worry about."
"Other things?"
"Same as here, Shadow said shortly, glancing at Rufus who had gotten caught on the stairs that morning.
"Ah," Hassildor said. "That brings me to my question. Should I practice the spell on Rufus here, or will we wait until we get to Oblivion to see if it works?"
"By all means, practice," Lark said, wondering why he had not thought of that.
Hassildor nodded, said some strange words and made a curious gesture. A glowing ball of light enveloped him, and nothing else happened.
"Um, isn't he supposed to do it to Rufus?" Lume asked softly.
Hassildor glanced around, irritated. "I'm open to suggestions," he said. "This spell is apparently not meant to be cast at a target. Now what?"
Lark smothered a smile, for it was indeed not funny if they could not get the spell to work. "Try touching Rufus," he suggested. "See what happens."
Hassildor walked to where the guard captain stood on the stairs, the glowing light trailing behind him, then catching up when he stopped moving.
Rufus watched with wide eyes as Hassildor reached out with a glowing hand and gripped him on the shoulder. "Hey, I can move!" he cried, demonstrating by swinging his arms. Hassildor let go and Rufus froze in place again. "Darn it."
Hassildor paused for a moment. "I wonder..."
He touched Rufus' shoulder again and said a strange word. The light flared up and everyone blinked. When they opened their eyes again the light was completely gone and Rufus was free.
He grabbed Hassildor's hand and shook it. "Thank you, sir!"
"Don't mention it," Hassildor said, turning back to Lark. "Well, it works."
"Great," said Lark. "Alright, can you go around Nirn and unfreeze everyone, please? It should take a year or so." When Hassildor just glared at him, he sobered. "Obviously that's not an option. We will go free Martin, because he has something to do with this, and then we will try to find a solution to this problem."
"Right!" Lume said, fired up. Shadow nodded.
"So, everyone gear up, we'll leave at dusk," Lark said decisively.
They all took their bundles and left to get ready.
ii.
"Aren't you afraid?" Shadow asked softly as he watched Lume filling her backpack with provisions.
She flashed him a quick look. "Of course not, are you?"
"Yes," he said simply, causing her to stop and look at him closely.
"What of?" she asked.
"I fear what will happen once we have freed Martin."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid that I will wake up," he said slowly.
She could think of nothing to say to that. "I'm afraid I won't know what to do... if something attacks me," she admitted.
"You will know and act," he assured her. "You're well-trained."
"But I have never done anything like this..."
"You can stay behind," he said. "I would like you to be safe."
"No, I'm coming with you," she said, squaring her shoulders. "If you can face your fear and move to meet it, then so can I."
"Then we'll face our fears together," he said.
iii.
"Where to?" Lark asked Shadow, as they climbed into the helicopter.
"Back to the cave, I think," Shadow replied. "But I'm not sure I can find it again from the air."
"A cave near Chorrol?" Lark asked. "History has a way of repeating, my friend. I think I know the place."
He gave instructions to the pilot who lifted the 'copter from the pad and banked away towards Chorrol. Beneath them the twinkling lights of Cyrodiil City stretched out as far as the eye could see.
"Things sure have changed a lot," Hassildor said, voicing Lark's very thought.
"I can't say I miss the monsters and bandits and evil vampire clans," Lark replied.
"Not to mention the vampire hunters," Hassildor added. "Civilization is indeed more comfortable."
"If a bit dull," Lark smiled.
"It's not dull at the moment," Hassildor said, yawning to prove his lie. "Don't worry, I'll wake up when the action starts."
"I hope so," Lark said. He looked into the back of the 'copter where Lume was holding Shadow's hand - both hands. He was about to make a sarcastic remark when he noticed that Shadow was trembling and seemed to be a pale shade of grey rather than his usual midnight black. "What's the matter?" Lark called over the engine noise.
"He's never flown before," Lume yelled back. "Tell the pilot to stop doing acrobatics with this thing."
The pilot was flying perfectly steadily, but Lark could understand Shadow's apprehension. "It's not far now," he yelled in reassurance. Lume flashed him a grin and went back to giving Shadow lots of attention. Lark suspected - perhaps unfairly - that she was glad of the chance.
"I should have thought of this," he said to Hassildor.
"You've been thinking of a lot of things," Hassildor excused him. "Besides, I would not have been happy to walk to Chorrol just because our guide doesn't know modern transport."
Lark laughed. "How about riding a horse?"
"I like modern technology," Hassildor said. "You are welcome to ride a horse or walk. I'll fly; it's much more dignified for a person of my status."
"Unknown eccentric recluse?" Lark asked innocently, then had to fend off a vengeful vampire for a second. "I yield, I yield," he laughed, then quieted. "There it is."
The helicopter landed in a nearby parking lot, and they disembarked, carrying their weapons and packs, to stare at the track leading up through the brush to the cave.
"Well, let's go," Shadow said, shouldering his pack. Checking to see if everyone was ready, he resolutely led the way.
iv.
It was as dark as night in the cave.
"Torches, everyone," Lark said, switching on his own. Thinking back he could hardly believe he had once lived in this cave.
"Torches won't help you for long," Shadow warned as he took the lead into the depths.
"Why not?" Lark wanted to know. The whole thing confused him as he knew every inch of the cave and it did not go down very deep. It certainly did not have a portal to Oblivion in it.
"I can't really explain it," Shadow said. "But we won't be here for long. In fact," he stopped walking and waited for them to catch up. "I'd better lead you from here on." He held out his hand and Lark took it after a moment. "Lume, you take Lark's hand... yes, and Hassildor, you... alright, let's go."
They trooped after him like a group of toddlers on an outing. Within a few steps Hassildor's torch - no-one else had a hand free to hold one - began to grow dim. He slapped it against his thigh to no avail.
"Batteries must be going," he muttered.
"No," Shadow said. "Put it away; it will be darkness from here on."
"Can you see?" Lark asked curiously as Shadow led them without hesitation through the dark.
"No," Shadow replied. "But I know where I'm going."
They could not tell how long it lasted, that walk through blackness. There was a firm, smooth surface beneath their feet; they never stumbled. They could feel the pressure of another's hand in theirs, and they could hear each other's voices; that was all.
Lark and Hassildor took to teasing each other again, and Lume smiled at their antics, but Shadow just kept moving onwards, towards a destination he knew and a destiny he feared.
v.
"I can see something," Lume said, peering intently. After a while she recognised the vague shape as Lark, just an arm length ahead of her.
"Yes," Shadow said. "We're moving into Oblivion. I recommend caution and stealth from now on."
They all quieted and watched as the landscape solidified around them. A glowering red sky bathed everything in lurid light, and cruel black rocks jutted every which way into the air. Hideous towers dotted the land between pools and streams of molten rock.
Finally Shadow stopped. "You can let go now," he said softly. "You'll need your hands. If we move quickly we may get to Martin without being noticed."
"Shouldn't we wait until dark?" Lark asked.
"There is no night here," Shadow said. "But Martin says it's quieter now."
Lark nodded in agreement and they moved on, walking carefully along a trail that skirted the edge of a river of lava. The heat was intense but their armour shielded them from most of the discomfort.
The trail took them along the river for a while, and then Shadow left it and cut across a rocky slope to the right. He halted on the crest, giving them a chance to catch their breath and spy out the lay of the land.
"Look, over there," he said softly, pointing to a group of Dremora. Everyone ducked behind the rocks, fearful of being seen. They carefully watched the Dremora for a few minutes, and in that time none of the creatures moved at all.
"They're caught," Shadow said finally.
Hassildor grinned. "It couldn't have happened to nicer people."
"It's a large group to get stuck," Lark said. "It seems to be worse here."
"Well, I'm here to help," Hassildor said. "Should I go over there and free them?"
He raised his hands in surrender as Lark threatened to choke him. They were so intent on their scuffle that neither noticed that a Dremora had sneaked up behind them. Shadow, planning a route past the group down below, did not see him either.
It was Lume who noticed the creature; who saw it cast a spell; who made a spectacular leap - aided by the ring she wore - and pushed Hassildor out of the way just as the lightning bolt would have struck him. She rolled back to her feet and shot the Dremora before any of the others had even moved. The Dremora toppled slowly to the ground and lay still. She stared for a moment at the creature she had killed, then walked away blindly.
Hassildor picked himself up. "Good thing she came along," he remarked, dusting off his armour.
"Yes," Shadow said. "But what will it cost her?" He followed her to where she leaned against a rock. "Are you alright?" he asked.
She turned to him and let him hold her for a while. Finally she moved. "I'm fine now," she said. "I've never killed..."
"I know," he said. "But you acted when it was necessary. I am proud of you."
She smiled bravely. "I faced my fear."
"You did," he said, giving her a quick hug. "Come on, we have to move on."
They walked back to Lark and Hassildor. Lark came to meet them, obviously embarrassed. "Thank you, Lume," he said. "You did great."
She stopped. "Don't talk to me! You're the one who said I would be a liability on this 'mission', and then you two come here and act like a couple of kids! I'm just glad I could do something, otherwise you would have had no-one to cast your precious spell!"
Hassildor lifted up his hand to draw attention to the enchanted rings he wore. "In point of fact..." he started.
"Shut up, Janus," Lark hissed at him. Looking back at Lume he hung his head. "You're right, Lume. We acted irresponsibly and I apologise. I've underestimated you and I'm glad you came along." He put every ounce of sincerity into his apology, hoping it would mollify her. He certainly did not want discord in the team. He nudged Hassildor. "Apologise."
Hassildor sighed. "Oh, very well. I'm sorry too, Lume. And thank you for saving me from getting a nasty shock."
Lark shook his head. Even he would not fall for Hassildor's attempt.
"Men," Lume sighed. "What did I expect?" she asked rhetorically. "Are we all done? Then let's go find Martin and get this over with."
vi.
"Do it now," Lark urged, keeping a nervous eye on the crowd of frozen Dremora surrounding the prone dragon.
Hassildor gave a decisive nod and started the invocation while Lume and Shadow also kept watch. They had skirted around an astounding number of frozen Daedric creatures, but there were enough still on the prowl that the journey had been anything but uneventful. Standing now at the head of the dragon – it was hard to think of it as Martin – they all wanted to get away as soon as possible.
Hassildor finished his chanting and the glowing light surrounded him again. He stepped forward, laid his hand on the dragon's immense snout and spoke the final command. The light flared.
The dragon lifted its head and Shadow spoke up. "He says he can move."
"What about the shackles?" Lume asked suddenly, pointing at the chains that still bound the dragon.
Shadow smiled. "He says not to worry, just wait a moment."
The dragon began to shimmer like something seen through heat waves. The shimmering increased until all they could see was a blur, and then the blur refocused until a man remained standing in the dragon's place. He wore a simple grey robe, and as he walked forward the shackles slipped off his hands and feet and he was free.
"Martin," Lark whispered. "I didn't really believe it." He stood as if rooted to the ground, staring at his long lost friend until Martin came and embraced him.
"Thank you, my friend," he murmured, patting Lark on the back. "We have to get moving," he then said, taking charge. "This place is not safe; already the Daedra are coming to investigate." He pointed to a large contingent coming towards them.
Hassildor and Lume grabbed at their weapons, but Martin stopped them. "It's no use fighting. I can get us away if you'll trust me."
Hassildor grinned. "We came all this way to free you, Your Majesty. Of course we trust you."
Martin looked startled at Hassildor's use of his title, but let it pass. "Alright, I'm going to shift back to dragon form. When I'm done, get on my back, all of you. Oh," he added. "Count Hassildor, when you're all on my back, cast your spell again, but keep it active – that way we'll be protected from the time phenomenon which is rampant in these parts."
Hassildor nodded his understanding and Martin blurred back to dragon shape. They scrambled up his enormous folded wing and unto his back. Lark sat in front, then Hassildor, Lume and Shadow. Hassildor started the invocation even as Martin launched himself into the air with a powerful push of his legs; then his great wings beat down and they were flying.
Beneath them the Daedric creatures howled but could only watch in frustration as their prey escaped. Hassildor cast the spell and the glowing light surrounded them all as Martin flew onwards, past towers and volcanoes, to a far black silhouette of high mountains against the red sky.
Lark was grinning madly; high on the joy of seeing Martin again as well as the thrill of flying on a dragon. Hassildor for once did not look bored. Lume could not decide between being terrified or astounded, so she settled for looking back to see how Shadow was doing. He was clinging to the dragon's back with his eyes squeezed tightly shut, intent on just surviving one more inexplicable experience in a long string of events he had no control over.
vii.
Martin settled on a wide ledge high in the black mountains, and his passengers slid off his back. As they were rubbing sore muscles from sitting in unaccustomed positions, he changed back to his human form.
"Thanks for the rescue," he said when they all just looked at him. "I feel as if I know you all... Lark, it has been too long."
Lark merely nodded.
"Count Hassildor," Martin continued. "Thank you for finding and learning the spell. It may be the one hope we still have."
Hassildor grinned, but his face was showing lines of fatigue due to still having to keep the spell active. "Glad to help."
"I will help you maintain the spell," Martin promised. He turned to Lume. "You must be Lume," he said. "I have seen you through Shadow's eyes. Thank you for coming to help me."
Lume regarded him steadily, having found confidence in herself on the journey. "It's nice to finally meet you," she said. "I'm just sorry that my people have forgotten you."
He smiled. "I'm not surprised. I always tried to live a normal life, and such are not noteworthy."
"Still," she started to protest but he had turned away. She subsided as he faced Shadow.
"Thank you most of all, my friend," Martin said. "You have suffered so much to free me. I have nothing to give you, but I can send you home now if you wish."
Shadow stared at him for a moment, then looked at Lume as if asking for advice.
She felt her insides clench in fear of losing him, but forced herself to show nothing. "If you want to go home..." she said, wanting him to stay but unwilling to influence him either way.
Shadow looked down. "I can't remember home," he muttered. After a moment he looked Martin in the eyes. "I'll stay," he said decisively. "You may still need me."
Martin nodded and reached out to grip Shadow's arm in appreciation. "Still you offer more," he said softly."But we may indeed need you. We have a dangerous road ahead of us yet."
"Can you tell us what's going on?" Lark asked. "And how you came to be here?" He paused. "And, where have you been for so long? I though you had died."
Martin smiled. "Let's sit down and relax for a while, then. It's a long story." As everyone settled down he made sure he sat next to Hassildor, and placed his hand on Hassildor's arm. "I can help you with the spell," he explained. Whatever he did was not visible but Hassildor took a deep breath and relaxed as if he were refreshed somehow.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," he said.
"I am just Martin," Martin said gently.
"You are a Septim," Hassildor said. "I knew your father, very well. He would have been proud of what you accomplished."
Martin inclined his head in acceptance. "My father knew, as do I, that no man can escape his destiny. I was born to face Mehrunes Dagon; all my life and training had lead up to that event, and I was willing to sacrifice everything to save Tamriel from the Daedra. I fully expected to die, but when I had prevailed, and was waiting for death, I was given a choice."
"A choice?" Lark asked. "Who by?"
"Akatosh, whose avatar I had become," Martin said and they gaped at him in astonishment. "Yes, my friends. I was given the chance to go to Aetherium for my deeds. I joined my father and his fathers in service to the Nine." He smiled. "I cannot describe to you a place of perfect beauty and light, because you cannot comprehend it. Time has no meaning there; neither has death or sorrow or regret. It is far removed from everything that happens in Mundus – your plane of existence – but it is still connected to the reality of our universe. So when we became aware of the strange time phenomenon in Oblivion, we knew that if it was left unchecked, it would in the end overtake us all. I volunteered to come and see how it manifested here, but I did not expect to get caught in it myself." He drew to a close with a wry smile. "Which is how we all now come to be here."
viii.
"Right," said Lark. "What's next?"
"Yeah," Lume said. "How do we stop this time bubble thing? We don't even know what it is or what is causing it."
"I know some things about it," Martin said. "Whatever is causing this is outside of Aurbis – our universe. At the same time, there is something that may be involved, buried in the depths of Nirn. This sounds confusing." He took a deep breath and tried again. "When Akatosh came into being, he shed some of his scales and they became the heart of Nirn." He noticed incredulous looks. "What?"
"His scales?" Lume asked.
Martin realized with a sense of shock that his audience did not truly believe in the Nine anymore. The history of how Nirn was created and Nine that fashioned it had been demoted to fanciful legends, with no basis in truth. He sighed deeply. "You're going to have to either believe that Akatosh, the dragon god of time, exists... or you're just going to have to come along without understanding," he said. "Akatosh truly is a dragon, and when he came into being, time started. His scales at the heart of Nirn anchors Aurbis in the flow of time. I think something is now interfering with that anchor, which causes the effects we've observed."
Lume shook her head as if to clear it. "Oh, this is so weird. But I'll try to keep an open mind."
"It's strange to me too," Lark said. "It's as if we've forgotten all that we knew to be true, with the coming of technology."
"Don't blame the technology," Hassildor protested. "It's the philosophers who argued away the existence of Aetherium, Oblivion and the Nine." He snorted. "If you can't see it or touch it, it isn't real," he mimicked. "Meanwhile I could cast spells that would make their hair stand up straight, but that would draw too much attention." He sighed. "So one adapts and talks along with current thinking and eventually, one forgets."
"Well," Shadow said slowly, having listened quietly for a while. "You now know that Oblivion exists – you're in it. And Aetherium exists, because otherwise Martin could not now be here. I would go on that and assume that Akatosh exists as well, especially since I've seen Martin become a dragon and I've flown on his back. At this time there is very little that I will not believe."
Lark grinned. "Well said. So, how do we find the scales? Will it do any good to go to them if the interference comes from outside? And what can possibly interfere from outside? How can there be anything outside the universe?" He laughed. "Oh dear, I've just asked enough questions to keep the philosophers busy for years!"
Martin joined in the laughter. "You never used to be this curious," he said. "As for the questions – I can take us to the scales. I don't know what we can accomplish there, but I have a feeling that that should be our next step. And outside this universe are countless other universes, like grains of sand on a beach. Who knows what else could cast an eye on our little corner of infinity?"
"Now you've lost me," Lark complained.
"You're right here," Martin teased.
"But where is here?" Lark asked in mock despair. "My poor head can't hold such vastnesses."
"Then look in your heart," Martin said softly, and they all nodded in understanding.
"Not to be insensitive," Hassildor said after a moment during which they all pondered infinity. "But where do we go from here? And for how long will I have to maintain this spell?"
"We must go back to Tamriel," Martin said. "We need to get some supplies before we go on to Morrowind. I'm afraid you'll have to maintain the spell constantly until we have eliminated the problem. We can't risk you getting caught and unable to free yourself." He touched Hassildor's arm again. "There, that should help for a while." Hassildor nodded, relieved. "Just remind me when I forget," Martin instructed the others.
"Back to Tamriel," Lark said. "The way we came?"
"No," Martin smiled. "The way is anywhere I want it to be. Is everybody ready? Then let's go."
He held out his hand, and Lark grasped it. As before they made a chain: Following Lark was Lume, Shadow and finally Hassildor. Martin lead them along the ledge and within a few steps it got dark as before.
"Why can't we see?" Lume complained as they walked.
"Because we are between planes of existence," Martin said. "There is no light here. Technically, there is nothing to breathe here, either, but the magic takes care of that."
"What magic?" Shadow asked. "When I came through before..."
"I opened the conduit through you," Martin said. "If you had tried, you could have done anything I can do." They heard him chuckle. "I suppose you still can. Do you want to turn into a dragon?"
"Not particularly," Shadow said. "But I wanted to ask you to tell me about where I came from, and why I can't remember it."
There was a long silence before Martin answered. "Well," he said. "This is a complicated issue, and I hope the answer won't upset you..."
"I need to know," Shadow said simply. "What am I?"
"You are a summoned soul," Martin said softly. "In past ages, practitioners of magic could trap souls of slain beings into crystal latices called soul gems, which were used to enchant items such as the belt you're wearing. Many such gems were never used, leaving the souls trapped in limbo for centuries. Somehow, when I cast my dream-call for help, you responded, so I summoned you from where you were trapped, into this body, made to resemble the creatures of Oblivion so that you could pass through them easily."
"But I seem to remember trees, and water..." Shadow said.
"That would be from your past life," Martin explained.
"And when you said you could send me 'home'?" Shadow asked, suddenly suspicious. "Would you have sent me back to eternal imprisonment?"
"No, my friend," Martin sighed. "I would release you to experience the beauty of Aetherium, even as I long to return to it myself."
Shadow was silent while he thought about this. "I think that would be nice," he said finally. "Thank you for telling me. I'm not upset; I'm relieved to understand my origins."
"I'm glad to hear that," Martin said, still leading them on through darkness.
"Your answer might not have upset Shadow," Lume muttered. "But it sure upset me."