Chapter 8 Its That Thingy With The Whats-It
Character Celantra
"So the city should stop sinking soon," K finished saying to the Guardians and moles, "Then you can send down a team to sure up any tunnels that may have been damaged."
"Good," Flame said, "Lets see that's three times I've seen this city saved in my life, maybe we should move and just not leave a forwarding address for our enemies."
"You think that would work," Terrador asked, "Would be much easier on us old timers."
As the Guardians and the moles continued to workout the reconstruction of the city, K walked over to Celantra. "I really hope that this is the last time I have to save this city, its seen enough trouble."
"Well you may not be done yet," C replied, "while you were occupied down in the tunnels, a group of demons flew over head. I'm certain they were scouting out the city for another attack, we have to find the portal before we can be reasonably assured that the city will be safe."
"There you go again with those big words," K stated, "Yes, the portal is of up most importance now."
"K! K!, Ah K there you are," Sarge said as he wandered into the room, "Simmons and Tucker found a thing that might be one of those gates or whatever."
"You mean a portal," C asked incredulously, "Those two, well Tucker is an ok fighter but Simmons is kinda... never mind. Where did they see it?"
"In a book in the library a couple of floors below us," Sarge replied, "Tucker knocked it off a shelf and Simmons accidentally read some of it, he thought it seemed important but was too busy reading to come tell you and Grif is just to lazy, so here I am telling you about the whats-it."
C look at K and he look back at her, "Show us." they said to Sarge. The library was one of the few areas of the city that wasn't completely destroyed with most of its books still on their respective shelves and only one or two holes in the walls. Simmons, Grif, and Tucker were standing around a table in the center of the room with a large book opened up on it.
"Wow how did you get that thing on the table," Celantra asked as she got closer, "That book is larger than all three of you."
"Yeah its dragon sized," Simmons said, "Me and Tucker lifted it onto the table and Grif just stood there and made lifting noises with his mouth, I think he is asleep in his helmet now."
"Sometimes I wonder why you all decided to stick around," K said, "But if this book happens to have any information on a rift or portal then I don't care."
"Oh its got a lot about portals, apparently the giant gem at the heart of this world is a conduit to hell." Tucker replied.
"Well that explains Malafor's escape," K said as he looked over the book, "Dear come look at this."
C look over K's shoulder at the diagram he was pointing to. It was the construction of the planet, well apparently what everyone thought was a planet was actually a giant lock to keep the core sealed away. Now that the lock had been opened the demons could use it like a giant bridge, funneling thousands of their kind into the world once it was attuned to them.
"So that is where all the other demons are," C said, "Probably trying to attune the core."
"Huh no I didn't have anything to do with a core," Grif said with a start as he woke up.
"Welcome back princess, did you have a nice nap," Sarge said sarcastically.
"Yeah it was great, but seriously what did I miss," Grif said.
"Lots more work for you to do,"C replied, "I think its time we stabilized this planet don't you?"
"Agreed," K said, "Sarge get the others, I'll have Doug send down the rest of DC at the core when we get there. Time to fix us a planet."
"I always wanted to win a fight against a planet," Sarge said, "Come on Grif your driving."
"This can't be this easy," C said, "That book didn't just get here."
"No it didn't remember those flying demons your were talking about earlier?" K replied.
"Oh you aren't thinking... I hope your wrong but you almost never are," C said, "Its an ambush isn't it?"
"Most definitely," K confirmed, "But the demons are correct in one aspect the core is a giant focus for a rift into hell."
"Why would they give us that information," C asked, "Unless they expect us to think it is a trap and involuntarily step into the real trap."
"Which is why we are going to charge right into the obvious trap," K replied, "The demons won't be expecting that. I've always been to cautious."
"Well if the you I know is the cautious version I'm not sure how I will like the reckless one," C replied.
K flashed her a grin that C had not seen him use in a very long time, then he whirled around and marched over to the Guardians. C was still shocked by K's grin however and was not listening to what he and the Guardians were talking about, the last time he had smiled at her like that, with those corners of his mouth turning up and the tips of his front fangs just barely sticking out from his upper lip, was just before they had their first son. She knew that he was back, her K, not the person he had turned into but the almost child-like individual that she had, and still did, love. "Oh dear," she thought, "I wonder if all the rest of us will be able to keep up with him now."
"Celantra," K called, "six of us are going to stay back and get the demons after everyone charges in, you want to come?"
"Sure thing love," C replied, "but I'm not paying for the popcorn."
"Ah-ha dinner and a movie," K said, "who else should we invite?"
"Why not the original DC," C answered, "Fenix, Jackson, Hags, John and Cortana?"
"Well that's seven, but I guess I'm a sentimentalist lets go get them," K said as he took off from the outside platform.
"Forgetting something dear," C thought to him.
"Oh right," K responded.
"Sorry," He said as he landed back in the library, "Forgot that they were all inside here somewhere."
C laughed as they waded farther into the tower, the Guardians had many rooms built into the surprisingly large structure and DC had taken up residence in them. Finding which rooms were being used however was a much more tedious task than either of them had thought. Finally after twelve levels and several dead ends, they had gathered the five founding members and were making their way back out.
"So we actually get to ambush the demons for a change," Jackson remarked, "Sounds good to me."
"Yeah but we are also going to be protecting our friends they are going to be walking right into an ambush after all." Cortana added.
"True," C replied, "But they are plenty capable of looking out for themselves. What I worry about is if the demons are smart enough to expect us and plan an ambush for our ambush."
"That sounds like you are over thinking it," Hags said as he, John and Fenix climbed up on K.
"You would be surprised," Cortana said as she and Jackson got on C.
"Ready you two," C asked as she prepared to take off.
"Yeah just none of those crazy speed dives," Jackson said.
"I heard crazy speed dives," K said as he leaped into the air, "You mean like this?" K closed his wings and fell about three hundred feet before snapping them open and speeding off away from the tower.
"Well, Fenix, Hags and John are going to have a fun ride now," C said, "Don't worry Jackson I'll take it easy."
They made their way towards the core, while the rest of DC was being carried in by Doug. The plan as it stood was DC would charge in drawing the demon ambush with it, then C, K Fenix, John, Cortana, Jackson and Haggard would attack the ambushing demons at a signal from James. Well that was the plan, however when C and the others got to the core, it was gone, the only thing left was a cavern where the core used to be that was about ten miles across and ten miles high.
"Gone, what do you mean gone," Tex asked over Fenix's radio.
"As in not here, the entire core has been moved," C replied.
Silence... then, "And you want me to tell Spyro this why?" Tex replied.
"It doesn't have to be you I just had your frequency," Fenix said, "we just need Spyro and them to know that the core is gone and we need to know where to find it."
"Right well look around there for anything that could indicate what the demons might have been doing," Tex said, "I'll go jump in the fire pit you guys just made for me."
"Well that was redundant," Cortana said, "what else would we do?"
"She was being rhetorical," C clarified, "Tex is not to happy about having to be the one to tell the Guardians that the core is missing."
"Hey over here," K called from the center of the space where the core used to be, "I got something but it is good news for once."
"What did you find," C asked as she and the others gathered around K.
"Energy signature that I recognize," K stated, "Fortunately it doesn't belong to Lucifer or any of his other commanders, but instead by a general that I helped train, it would explain the use of my Apocicas."
"K who is this general," Jackson asked, "What sort of skills does he have?"
"His name is Vargoth, a talented but straight forward demon," K replied, "I would advise against facing him in one-on-one combat."
BZZ-BZZ, "K radio for you," Fenix said.
"Oh right, just a second," K said as he took the radio, "K here."
"K," Ingitus said, "Tex just informed us that the core is missing, however we know that can not be true because if it was then the shield that Spyro created would have dispersed and the planet would have flung itself apart so the core must still be there. Do you think it would be possible for it to be invisible?"
"No we are standing in the spot it used to be in," C said, "But it could have been shifted. It is possible that the demons had enough time to transpose the core to the other side of the rift that it could create, while retaining its effects on this world."
"Well if they could have done that..." Ingitus started, "K is the rift still open?"
"If they transposed the core then yes it would be but it would still have to transport the demons to where it was. Oh." K said, "Got to go we need to leave."
"K," C said, "To late." She dodged backwards as a large group of demons waded through a rift that opened up in the middle of the cavern. The group was made up of twenty flying demons that were a sickly pale green with tattered wings and a ghostly body. On those rode skeletons of various sizes and shapes, some were human-like some were evidently demonic in origin.
Jackson unsheathed his katana and jumped on C, while John powered up his swords and got on K. Fenix and Hags got behind Cortana and started firing, as C and K took off for the demons.
"Keep a grip on me," C called to Jackson, "I may have to preform some rolls."
"Great," Jackson replied, "I'll just focus on chopping the demons that come at you from above so you won't have to."
They collided with the first set of demons, C's claws and energy beams devastating three of the demons and two of the skeletons, while Jackson caught two demons with his sword as they tried to get over and behind C. K and John were equally effective, killing more of the mounts than of the skeletons, which fell to the ground and were smashed up by Cortana. Fenix picked off three of the skeletons from their mounts while Hags exploded the three mounts. The twenty-two demon and skeletons that were left dived towards Cortana, Fenix and Hags.
"Blarg it, Catch me if I miss," Jackson said as he dived off of Celantra and onto a demon cutting the skeleton that was riding it up and off. John had the same idea as he sailed past C to crush a skeleton and demon then land on another demon and dispose of its skeletal rider. Haggard exploded another four demons with his pyrolauncher while K and C eliminated another six demons and riders. Five of the remaining eleven demons with riders landed on the ground the other six split up and were trying to throw Jackson and John off the demons they were riding on. K disintegrated two of the mounted demons that were hassling John as C dove for two of the demons that were attacking Jackson. She caught both sets of demons in her claws and crushed them into the ground as she landed, then she electrified a set of the demons that were conflicting with Cortana while Fenix brought down two of the demons on her other side. Haggard finished off the last of the flying demons, John jumped down to land beside Cortana and fight the last two demon/skeleton sets. K landed beside C with Jackson on his back.
"Well, that could have been worse," K said.
"True," C replied, "Anyone hurt?"
"Were fine," Was the general reply.
"And you dear," K asked, "that was a pretty hard landing."
"My legs will be sore tomorrow but other than that I'll be fine," She replied, "besides it was so worth it."
"I'll bet," Cortana said, "I love it when you can smash something into the ground."
"Yeah you normally have a big giant body you can use to do it with too," Fenix said, "But lets get out of here before another group comes through."
"I think not," K said, "Doug is on his way with DC now, the next time that rift opens we are going through it."
"Its the only way to get the core back," C added, "We still get to ambush the demons but it will be on their own turf."
"Means they will be expecting it even less," Fenix said, "I like that."
"Reminds me why I decided to stay with you death seekers," Jackson asked, "Cause this stuff just keeps sounding better and better."
Character James
"K, C," James greeted as he, Doug in a large berserker form, Cloak, Carter, the Freelancers, and the Primes got out of the drop-ship near the rift.
"Ok so you all are going in with us," K said, "Jackson, John, Fenix, Hags, Cortana, you stay here and wait for the Doctor and reinforcements I'd prefer to have as few of you who haven't been in hell go with us."
"What about me?" Sparks asked, "I've been there before."
"Have you been following us around this whole time," C asked, "Impressive."
"Thank you," Sparks replied, "Look you all can still do all the killing but don't you think it would be nice to have someone who can move about undetected to scout out areas for you."
"I suppose," K said, "Just don't tell Spyro I let you tag along,"
"Tell who that I got to do what," Sparks replied.
"K," Doug said, "Doctor will arrive after we depart and then after him will come the dragons in sets of eight, two hour staggering so if we aren't out in two hours the next group is going in."
"All set then," James said, "It has been to long since we marched on the gates of hell. Now all we have to do is wait, right?"
"Not for long here comes the next wave," Cortana announced, "Get ready to move in ten, nine."
James got down so Carolina, York and Main could get on him.
"Three."
He tensed his legs ready to spring into the air.
"One."
The rift opened and a flock of flying demons poured out of it, James was already halfway to the rift before the first three demons were out. As he ripped through the demons with a gravity vortex, twisting and ripping their bodies apart, he saw Sparks zip past and go through the rift, which he fell through a second later. On the other side was an almost pitch black emptiness, James knew he should feel the overwhelming ripping sensation of every atom in his body trying to rip itself apart but his gravity control was strong enough to counter the vacuum of hell.
"Hey where is everyone else," Carter asked as he picked himself up off the ground then helped Cloak up.
"The rift is closed," James observed, "I assume the others didn't make it through in time. You two were riding K correct? He probably sensed that the portal was closing and threw you through it."
"Yeah that sounds like him," Cloak said, "Always getting us into the middle of everything."
"So you're saying that the seven of us have to find the core in two hours secure it and get it back," York asked.
"Seems that way," James replied, "Sparks, your attuned with the core are you not, through the necromancy that Cynder used to bring you back."
"Oh yes," Sparks said, "And you are not going to like where the core is."
"Liking it doesn't matter," Carolina said, "If we know where it is we can get it."
"Ok, its inside some giant structure that is about a mile in that direction," Sparks said pointing off to their right."
"Ok is everyone's eyes adjusting," James asked, "If we head for the tower then we need to be able to see." His own eyes had adjusted just fine, the Spartans were using night vision, and Sparks didn't need to adjust his sight. "Ok Sparks you take us in since you can scout ahead of us, everyone else get on, I can expand my gravity field to include you but only if you are very close."
"Thanks," Came the reply as Carter, Cloak, Carolina, York and Main all climbed onto him.
"Hey its just like riding in a tank," York said.
James set off following Sparks, he could make out the outline of the structure a long flat building with occasional spires and arches coming up out of it. Sparks, he assumed, could see just fine in the murky blackness that pervaded everything around them. Their passage to the building was uninterrupted but about three hundred yards away Sparks brought them to a halt.
"Ok there are about fifty demons inside that castle, most are just grunt level, but I am picking up five that are Lieutenants and one that is a Major, you just want to run and gun it, or do you want to sneak?"
"Run and gun," Main replied.
"Sounds good to me," James said, "Once we have the core we just need to hold onto it for five minutes so it can attune itself with the world again. Then we all get snapped back, how much time have we got?"
"Forty-five minutes," Carolina replied.
"Where in the complex is the core?" James asked.
"See that third arch to the left," Sparks said, "Its hung from the top of that, so we have to be on the core to be touching it."
"Sounds like a king of the hill game to me," York said, "What just trying to lighten the mood, geez tough crowd."
"Right then lets go give these demons a surprise," James said as he rocketed into the air and speed towards the third arch. Almost immediately demons rose into the air to meet him but between his gravity distortions, Main's grenade launcher, Carter and Cloak's machine guns, York's shotgun, and Carolina's dual plasma repeaters, they made it through to the core.
"Well there went about twelve," Sparks said, now we just have the rest and their leaders to repel while we sit here."
"How long do we have," Carolina asked.
"Five minutes," James replied, "and here comes the welcoming committee."
As James spoke the demons marshaled down below, they had arranged themselves in five groups of seven and one group of nine. The most troubling aspect of the entire situation was that most of the demons on the ground were the Spike demons with the exception of the Major, which appeared to be constructed like a walking catapult, and his two guards which were basically two large living shields. The core must have been floating a good four-hundred feet above the demons but even with that the major looked large, and as it cocked back the grotesquely mutated arm on its back James laid out a field of gravity in which everything felt a thousand times the normal effect of gravity. This didn't slow down the demons much and he kept the effect from affecting any of the Spartans but the molten projectile that flew up from the major demon's back and the accompanying spikes that were fired up towards them were drastically slowed. Unfortunately the missiles did not just drop back to the ground but, slowly continued their flight upwards, powered be the demons magic.
"Quickly shoot the demons before the projectiles reach us," Carter said as he started to unload some rounds from his Famas. As the others started firing demons started falling and with them the projectiles that they had fired.
"Take down the major," James said, "his fire balls are going to roast us if we don't stop them."
There were three of the flaming orbs heading towards them now and James was starting to feel the strain of holding down so much at such a high intensity.
"I'm going to focus on just the major's rounds so the smaller stuff is going to become problematic in just a second," James warned. Then after a good-to-go thumbs up form Cloak he narrowed his concentration on just the fireballs. The sharp crack of the demons spines ricocheting off the core resounded with almost the same volume as the sporadic gunfire from the others.
"Those shield demons are blocking everything we throw at them," York yelled, "What now?"
"Sparks can you distract the shields long enough for Main to get some grenades through," Carolina asked.
"Sure just don't leave without me," Sparks said as he darted down towards the demons.
"Main if you can knock the shields down with your grenades I can use some of my energy to hold them on the ground," James added.
"Right," Main replied as he fired six grenades in rapid succession, "Got them."
James threw gravity bubbles around the shields, but the molten projectiles that the major was throwing up at them speed up a bit in response.
"Ok now would be a good time to kill the big one," Sparks said as he reappeared next to James.
"On it," Cloak said. She popped over the edge and unloaded the last drum mag for her RPK into the large demon getting a loud roar from the creature but nothing else.
"Next idea," York asked.
"Yeah, I got one," James said, "Duck."
He reversed the direction that his gravity stream was pushing and instead of keeping the projectiles from hitting them sent them flying over their heads, then he redirected the missiles around back towards the demons slamming the gathered demons with their own fire. Before he could check out his handy work however they all snapped back to the other end of the rift, where K and the others were waiting for them.
"Well Core is back," Sarge said, "And you ain't dead either, not bad. Just shows you what all that stuff with the thingy-what-its does for you."
"Do you mean technology," Simmons asked.
"Yeah that stuff, No need for fancy powers or nothing just good old fashioned elbow grease," Sarge said.
"Actually without James' powers we wouldn't be back here now," Carolina replied.
"So does this make us friends then," James asked, "Cause you all sure know your way around a battle, wouldn't want to be on your bad side."
"Hey you don't make us mad we won't make you mad," York said.
"James," K called, "Stop messing around we got the core back but the demons had to get here in the first place and Spyro thinks he knows where."
"Yeah, You all get your fight on cause its going to be sweet," Coal said as he walked by throwing a salute to James and the group.
"Coal," Carter remarked.
James was suppressing a laugh as he and the others made there way out of the core's cavern and back to the city.