Chapter 15 Round We Go Again
Character Soap
"Carry on my wayward son... there'll be peace when you are done, lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more!" Price came in with the drums while Ghost picked up the guitar strings and busted out some rifts and Soap moved into the fist stanza. "Once I rose above the noise and confusion, just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion. I was soaring ever higher, but I flew to high... tho my eyes could see I still was a blind man, tho my mind could think I still was a mad man. I hear the voices when I'm dreaming. I can hear them say! Carry on my wayward son... there'll be peace when you are done, lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more! Masquerading as a man with a reason. My charade is the event of the season and if I claim to be a wise man, well it surely means that I don't know. On a stormy sea of moving emotion, tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean. I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say. Carry on my wayward son... there'll be peace when you are done, lay your weary head to rest. Don't you cry no more!"
Ghost picked up the pace and set into a solo on his electric as the flame cannons on either side of the stage spewed two massive balls of fire into the night sky. The crowd was roaring with enthusiasm, but Soap was looking for four people in particular. The Legionnaires, Reinhardt, Katarina, Lucas, and Anjali, his friends and co-operatives in this undercover deep plant mission as unlikely as it seemed.
"Carry on, you will always remember. Carry on, nothing equals the splendor. The center lights around your vanity but surely heaven waits for you. Carry on my wayward son... there'll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest don't you cry... don't you cry no more!" Soap finished up the song that was done by Kansas many years ago with a roar and fist pump. The crowd went wild as Ghost and Price imitated the movement once they finished up with the last chords of the music and the three left the stage.
"Well done," Reinhardt said as 141 came back stage.
"Thanks," Price said, "I haven't had a chance to play the drums like that in years."
"As fun as it may be remember we are still doing this so that our cover stories check out with the Chinese officials," Lucas added.
"I still think I should have a part on stage," Katarina jabbed.
"You two," Anjali said as she sat up in her chair, the bullet wound she had received last month was mostly healed now but the wound was still sore and she restrained her activity to mostly mental exercise.
"How are you doing," Ghost asked, "Haven't seen you since this morning."
"Why don't you two catch up as we head to the hotel," Soap intervened, "We have to get our Id's and meet with the customs officials in two hours."
"I brought the Id's with me," Price said, "Figured they would be safer on us than at the hotel."
"Well then we have to still make it look like we left them at the hotel," Anjali stated, "Ghost mind helping me up?"
Soap enjoyed a grin as Ghost passed him the guitar and went to help the Archon. Ghost and Anjali had been real close before she got shot, now though they acted like... well Soap didn't quite know what they acted like. Not siblings, nor lovers, but definitely a couple like John and Cortana or Spyro and Cynder. One of the older couples. But not like K & C or Church and Tex, no the two certainly had their own unique chemistry.
"Ok so back to the hotel then to the customs building," Soap said, "Race you."
"Shotgun," Lucas called as he headed out for the cars.
The cars, two 1970s, trans am, Pontiac Firebirds, both in black with red leather interiors, were more than they appeared. Equipped with satellite communication, twin forward and rearward facing missile tubes hidden behind the bottom sets of lights, revamped twelve cylinder engines and experimental all-grip tires that could cling to just about any surface, including glass. They also helped convince others that Soap and his friends were really rock stars.
"Price your driving," Soap said as he slid into the back seat, "I'll call Jack and Domingo ."
"On it," Price replied, "Just one question how badly do you want to win this race?"
"Oh, I think we can give them a head start," Soap replied, "With you driving it won't help them."
Price and Lucas laughed as Soap turned on the comm. "Legion 141 reporting," Soap said.
"We hear you 141," Domingo replied, "Jack is busy with politics right now but I have the information files on the customs officials that you are going to be interacting with. Remember as 'The Echoes' you are a renegade band of rockers in China to clear the air after the bombings, so don't be too business like."
"You've never seen us in action before," Soap said "Business like is not how we are described."
"Hmmf,"Domingo replied, "Anyway you will be meeting with Cho-Lan Sho, and Hermaous. Sho is a car fan thus your rides, Hermaous is more of a domestic peace keeper so stressing that you will not be unduly riotous should convince him, it will probably be better if you can engineer the conversation so that he 'convinces' you to behave. Got all that?"
"Yeah," Soap confirmed, "Just stand by to call in some favors we may need to be able to back up our bluffs."
"Don't you worry I can arrange for anything you need," Domingo replied, "Now go sell a cover story."
As Soap silenced the comm he looked out the windshield to see that Price had turned off into a back ally. "What are you doing?"
"Short cut," Price said, "Should make a good impression on our hosts."
Soap reached over and strapped himself into the other seat belt, he knew Price was planning a 'drop in' to beat Ghost and his riders. The ally ran along the tops of low-lying buildings and was headed straight for the customs office, the top of the customs office.
"Bad idea, bad idea," Lucas said. Then they went off the edge. The front wheels grabbed and held onto the top of the building while the rear wheels stuck onto the side. Price shifted into reverse and backed down the building and right into a parking spot as Ghost pulled into the lot.
"Now you see why I let him drive," Soap said.
"Remind me why I ride with you two again," Lucas asked.
"Cause you like the excitement," Katarina said as she, Reinhardt, Anjali and Ghost walked over, "Now if you're done showing off shall we go in?"
"Yeah just let me do the talking," Soap said as he opened the door. The building's interior was a stark contrast to the early morning dusk that hung outside. With white LED lights, tan walls and tiled floors the office was efficient.
"You must be the Echoes," An elderly man said as he greeted them, "I am Cho-Lan Sho, senior official of this department, I trust that you have had a good reception from our people."
"Yes Mr. Sho," Soap replied, "We did a quick show for some spectators before heading over here actually. They were quite energetic."
"Then I suppose that was you who made such a sound outside," another man said as he entered the room, "I am Hermaous, Sho's supervisor. My duty is to keep the peace after these recent events and while I don't agree with your methods, on that alone I can not deny you entry into my country. However if you continue with such disturbing stunts as trying to park on the top of the building I will have you removed."
"We are actually parked out front," Price said, "Though now that you mention it..."
"Cut it out," Soap said, "Don't worry we mostly put on the renegade act for our concerts, though the occasional race or brawl doesn't hurt to keep the reputation alive."
"Your papers check out," Sho said, "I see you have brought two personal cars with you as well. Lawfully we must check these cars for smuggled items."
"Sure there right out front," Anjali said, "Look all you want."
"Knowing him, if they are nice enough you may have to wait a while for him to 'look all he wants,'" Hermaous added, "So long as you keep our laws I can not do anything to you but if you cross me I will have you removed."
"Sounds fair enough," Soap replied as he took the passports back from Hermaous. "Now we have a show to plan."
They walked back outside where Sho was inspecting the cars.
"These are very nice," Sho said as they approached, "I don't suppose you are looking to sell one?"
"Sorry they are a part of the band," Ghost said, "But maybe we can take you for a ride in them some time."
"Oh no," Sho replied, "Then I would have to have one. But better yet they cleared inspection so you are all ready to go. Just keep your stunts to a minimum the population is already very... charged due to recent events."
"That's why we are here," Soap said, "We just want to give folks an avenue to release some tension."
"Well you have my best wishes even if you don't have my bosses'," Sho said as he went back inside.
Soap let out a sigh, Anjali laid back across the hood of one of the cars, Ghost placed a hand on her shoulder, Price and Reinhardt ran their hands through their beards, and Lucas and Katarina both were grinning.
"Ok everyone into the cars we actually do have a show to plan," Soap reminded them as he dropped into the driver's seat. Katarina took the shotgun seat this time and Price got in the back, the others were in the other car.
"What Lucas couldn't handle our driving," Price said as he called HQ.
"Seems that my brother is more easy to scare than he would like us to think," Kat replied.
Soap and Price both laughed before Soap shifted into drive and followed Ghost out of the parking lot and into the streets that were just beginning to see sunshine from over the flat, gray, rooftops. Price was talking with Jack as they headed back to the hotel and hopefully some breakfast.
"Ok so I was thinking," Price said to Jack, "Our band should actually be real, that way no one can find out that it is a cover."
"Sounds reasonable," Jack replied, "but can you pull it off, I mean how many classic rock songs do you know between the seven of you?"
"More than you might think," Kat said. Despite not being officially part of the conversation.
"Well if you know the material I can have all the documents filed for you," Jack said, "Just remember that your there to find out about the weapons, were they built, bought, traded, I want to know everything about these attacks."
"On it boss," Price replied as he cut the comm off, "Well its legitimate now, we are The Echoes. Our first concert, I'm thinking a mix of Crow, Jett, Ozzy, Blue Oysters, you know give 'em a whole spectrum of what we can do."
"I can do Crow, but Anjali is better at Jett," Katarina said, "Price you seem like an Ozzy, and Lucas and Ghost would be great as B.O.C."
"Our concert is in a week think Anjali will be up to it," Soap asked.
"Oh I think so," Kat replied, "Ghost seems to be helping her recover faster than is normal even for an Archon, I think it might have something to do with his history with fire but I'll have to watch them more closely to be sure."
"As long as they stay healthy I don't care how," Soap said, "Now what do we want for breakfast, I'm thinking KFC."
Soap downed the last chicken leg as they pulled into the back ally behind their stage. The comm light flashed as they entered the backrooms of the stage. Price went over and flipped it on as Anjali said something to Ghost about eating out more often and Lucas finished strapping on his swords and shield.
"Jack got some intelligence for us," Soap asked into the phone.
"Sure do," Came Domingo's voice in reply, "Well nothing solid yet but do you think you could video the bomb sites, Tyler, one of the necro's here has an idea maybe the bombs' victims can tell us about the attacks, if they are still hanging around that is."
"Ah like an after image left on the camera," Reinhardt said, "That could work, only thing is those areas are highly radioactive it might interfere with the cameras and only Anjali can even go near the actual craters."
"Domingo is Jack there," Ghost asked.
"Aye, Turner get over here," Domingo called.
"I said don't call me that," Jack's voice echoed through the phone before he got on the line. "141 I'm here what's your idea?"
"You got those high altitude drones right," Ghost said, "So..."
"Take a video of the sites from the air," Soap finished, "Perfect. You can get direct footage of the sites and not have the radiation disrupt the cameras, and Anjali can rest some more."
"141, this is Helda I'm one of the Necromancers," a smooth but light voice said, "We can try it your way but the echoes may not be as visible from above as they are from the ground, if so we will contact you again if this drone works we can just send you the footage."
"That's fine," Soap agreed, "How far out is the closest drone?"
"We have one already over there monitoring the Chinese air space it will be only a matter of minutes before we see if this will work," Jack replied, "Or oh my... You guys want to see this."
Ghost turned on the display screen which was soon downloading the footage that the drone was picking up. All seemed normal until something flashed across the screen, then again, then nothing.
"Hold on can you rewind that and stop it on those flashes," Anjali asked, "I couldn't make out all of it but, that shape seems familiar."
Soap did so and they all jumped back from the screen. On it was a grossly contorted face, a blackened charred face with melted eyes around a fiery pupil, a demon's face, Moroni's face.
"That's not possible," Price said, "Cloak banished him, erased him from time."
"Aye," Reinhardt replied, "But we still remember him, K still remembers him and probably that shadow of K we found in the temple also remembered him."
"Wait your thinking that the evil K you killed was somehow able to bring Moroni back from not existing," Jack coughed, "that's ridiculous, all we have is this one picture."
"Fast forward to the next picture," Price said, "Lets see if that is true."
The next picture was even more dreadful than the first, Moroni had a hand reaching out straight for the drone.
"And that was taken just before the images stopped," Lucas said, "Is the drone still flying?"
"Yes all systems working except for the cameras," Domingo replied, "Well at least he isn't very strong yet."
"Not yet but with all that radiation around how long until he becomes strong enough to be dangerous," Soap added, "No we have to crush this demon before he gains anymore power, but how?"
"Radiation," Anjali commented, "Moroni draws his power from it, so lets neutralize the radiation."
"Jack you got anything that can do this on a large scale," Price asked.
"Hmm... possibly," Jack replied, "there is a process that uses hydrogen gas and cold fusion to neutralize radioactive substances quickly but it has only ever been used on small amounts in secure locations. You would have to have access to an enormous amount of hydrogen to cover an area as large as the fall out zones from those bombs."
"Not to mention some way of cold fusing the hydrogen with the radioactive particles," Domingo added.
"Lets assume we can get that," Soap said, "What would we need to do?"
"The treatment process is actually quite easy," Jack said, "Just get the hydrogen to the correct temperature and then release it near the radiation."
"How hot does the hydrogen need to get," Katarina asked, "Isn't that stuff explosive?"
"It's quite flammable," Reinhardt commented, "igniting at temperatures as low as five-hundred degrees Celsius."
"Well you will only need to get it to about 180C," Jack said, "Which might not sound that hot but trust me you will need a lot of heat to get enough gas to that temperature."
"We can bring the heat," Ghost said, "where can we get the hydrogen?"
"I can help with that," Domingo said, "It's fallen into my hearing about a certain nuclear reactor that happens to stockpile the gas in case of a leak. This particular reactor has also recently come up missing its uranium cores, the perfect material to make say a bomb with. Only problem is its owned by a splinter group of the Russian government and won't be easy to get into, unless you can make enough from the show business to buy the hydrogen you need, ha-ha-ha."
"That just might work," Soap said.
"Yeah," Price agreed, "and if we can't buy it from them then force is always an option."
Character Redford
"Wait a little to the left, little more, perfect," Red directed as Orthino lowered another block of stone into place on the wall. "You know with your help this is going much faster."
"Well it should," Orthino replied with a grunt, "I'll bet even the moles are having a hard time keeping up with how fast I can place these stones."
"Here's the next one," Ve said as she and Chris drug another thirty ton brick over to the elder dragon.
"Hey you think we can finish the wall today," Chris asked.
"Possibly," Orthino replied as he hefted the brick for Red to direct into place.
They had steadily been rebuilding the wall for three weeks now and there was only a few hundred yards left to go. On this clear warm morning, with the plain spread out before him Redford could almost feel the fishing pole in his hands. They were close to the end of what they could fix, the interior buildings and roads would have to be rebuilt by the moles since they were the only ones who could carve and place the stones for the arches and other structural components that required a more delicate touch than the dragons could give.
"Ok right there," Red said as another block was set into place, "I wonder what the others are doing."
"Getting into trouble most likely," Orthino replied as he stretched out his back, "After all they are a demolitions team, a werewolf orc, and two vampires, pretty much anything they do will be trouble."
"You read my mind," Redford commented as Chris and Ve brought in another block, "Hey have you two seen Grish or my squad?"
"Not since we left the tower," Chris replied, "I'm sure they are somewhere around here."
"That's what worries us," Red and Orthino said.
"Jinx," Orthino added.
"What, I err fine," Red replied, "That is three for you and two for me."
"You must be on today's count," Ve commented as she and Chris flew back for more stones.
"You know if before I entombed myself someone told me I would be helping to rebuild my city with humans, orcs, and vampires while keeping track of a jinx tally I would have thought they were crazy," Orthino stated.
"Agreed," Red replied, "How many more blocks do you think we need?"
"Well the wall is six blocks tall and each block is about thirty feet long, so... maybe another twenty or so," Orthino said, "I guess we should tell Chris and Ve to tell the moles to slow down their excavations."
"We should tell them what now," Chris asked as the two dragons dragged another block over to them.
"Slow down the excavations we may only need another twenty or so blocks," Redford said.
"Oh good," Ve exclaimed, "Cause I think my legs are starting to cramp."
"And My back," Orthino added, "I'm sorely tempted to take a break but we need to finish this wall today."
"Just don't hurt yourselves," Red said, "Just say the word and I'll throw my own strength behind moving these boulders."
"Appreciated," Orthino said as the other two dragons went back for another stone, "But I doubt it would help."
"My strength isn't in my back its in my brain," Red replied, "We could line the path from the quarry to here with logs to roll the bricks over."
"Except that dragons are to heavy to walk on the logs without splintering them," Orthino said.
"Oh right," Red said as he directed the next block into place, "Well it was worth a shot."
"Run, run, run, run," Sweetwater shouted as he and Preston bolted past Redford and Orthino.
"What the..." Red stammered.
"That doesn't sound good," Orthino remarked, "Shall we go see what has them so excited?"
"Yeah then I'm going to knock their heads together," Red added.
They caught up to Sweets and Preston who were being pinned down by Ve.
"Its something big and and red and its got a huge ax that cut right through solid rock," Preston said, "I'm sure its trying to kill us."
"Ok can you start from the beginning," Red asked, "Where were you and where are the others?"
"Well Hags and Serana are probably still over at the quarry," Ve said, "They have been using the Pyrolauncher to cut out these blocks."
"Well that explains why they've been able to keep up with us," Orthino remarked.
"And where are Grish and Lyd," Redford continued.
"Uh we are not sure about that," Sweets replied, "Last we saw them was when we left the tower, they were headed for the coast."
"Ok so everyone is accounted for," Orthino said, "Now what were you running from?"
"That," Preston said as he pointed behind Redford, "Duck Red."
Redford ducked as he heard the swish of a blade pass over him and the crack of a lightening bolt that Ve shot at whatever was behind him. As he got up and turned around he saw a ten foot tall molten golem with a shimmering ax in its hands. Then he saw Orthino's foot crush the creature into the ground.
"That is what sent you running," Orthino asked, "A lowly fire elemental?"
"Well yeah," Sweets said, "We ain't got scales or lightening breath and we ain't forty feet tall!"
"Hey whats the hold up," Hags called as he and Serana walked up to them, "We've got your rocks cut out."
"Ok enough with the rocks jokes," Serana said, "Your just like a five year old."
"Oh come on I'm three at the most," Hags replied.
"Seems a fire elemental scared these two off," Orthino said, "If you guys are done with the quarrying could you all round up Grish and Lyd and go with Preston and Sweets here to see where this creature came from. While they don't pose much of a threat to dragons, they could be very deadly to the cheetahs and moles."
"Yeah and us," Preston added.
"Since when did that ever bother you," Red asked, "Last I recall you joined up with us because we are dangerous."
"I... we well, can bullets kill those things?" Preston replied.
"Probably not," Orthino replied, "But you've got more than bullets at you disposal, last I saw Lydia and Serana can both cast ice spells, those should be more than sufficient to dispatch any fire elementals you come across."
"I'd still bring your guns," Red advised, "Never know."
"Alright fine we're going," Sweets said as he and Preston picked themselves up.
"Come on," Serana said, "I can feel Lydia's presence coming from this direction."
"Ok that's one of the more creepy vampire traits," Red said as the four of them walked off.
"I know right," Veronica added.
"Well lets get this wall finished so I can go fishing," Red said.
"I'm going with you on that," Orthino said as he lifted the brick that Chris and Ve were dragging.
After another two hours the other twenty blocks had been placed and the wall was completely restored. Well except for the moles coming in behind them and polishing up any chips or cracks that might have been produced in the movement and placing process. Chris was helping Veronica stretch out her legs and looking rather exhausted himself while Orthino lay on his back to relieve the pressure of lifting the massive stones. Redford was mildly thirsty after giving directions all day but he figured that was a minor issue compared to the three dragons.
"Ahh there we go," Orthino sighed as a loud crack sound came from his back, "Ok I'm ready for some fishing."
"Does fishing involve sleeping," Chris asked.
"Yes it does," Redford replied, "And beer. First though I should see what the others have been up to this entire time. You think they actually found any more of those molten creatures?"
"Its possible but unlikely," Orthino said, "Fire elementals don't usually congregate in mass."
"Where do you think they got off to," Ve asked.
"Probably got sidetracked at the beach," Chris replied, "They had to go there to get Grish and Lyd."
"Well the faster we find them the faster we can get to fishing," Orthino declared as he rolled over, "Red get on."
Redford climbed onto the dragon's back and got a firm grip, Orthino liked a violent take off. The dragon exploded off the ground like a rocket sending them halfway across the city in one bound another bound landed them at the beach. Red got down as Orthino sniffed the air.
"Smell them anywhere," Red asked.
"Yes but the scent is not strong enough for them to still be here," Orthino said, "They must have left here an hour and a half ago."
"That would be about the time that Sweets, Preston, Hags and Serana met up with them," Red stated, "I guess they really did go hunting for these elementals after all."
"Prompted by the werewolf no doubt," Chris remarked as he and Ve landed beside them, "I guess this will put off the fishing, beer and sleep."
"Well sleep and fishing anyways," Redford said, "beer is portable, and since I'll bet the trail will lead us past a kitchen we can pick up some there and maybe some food."
"I could go for some ox how about everyone else," Orthino said, "I'll buy."
"Fine by me," Chris said, "After all you do have a treasure room the size of the city."
A little while later and they each had a bag of flame cooked ox meat and a cup, or bucket for the dragons, of a dark ale. The dragons had the bag of meat hang down one side of their neck and the ale off the other side for ease of access. Redford was right his squad and friends had passed by a roaster and bar on their way to the main entrance to the Warfang tunnels.
"Why do we have an entrance to these tunnels if only bad stuff keeps coming out of them," Ve pondered aloud as the four of them passed into the cool, damp underground.
"Nice and quiet in here," Chris said, "I find it relaxing."
An explosion shattered the stillness of the air followed by, "Collapse that tunnel there are more of them coming from that way!"
"That's Sweets," Red exclaimed, "Orthino get us there, I don't like the sound of this."
Orthino charged forward almost throwing Redford off. From a tunnel to their right they heard gunfire and shouting. Redford pulled out his pistol, wishing he had brought along some bigger weapons, as Orthino kicked off a wall and slid into the tunnel. As they continued through the dark maze of underground Chris and Ve caught up to them. Then the tunnel opened out into a cavern in which Bad Co. and Grish Co. as Redford had taken to calling Grishnake, Lydia, and Serana, were actively fending off more of the fire elementals.
"Everyone get behind me," Orthino yelled. Bad Co. dropped back as Grish, Lyd and Serana held the fire elementals at bay. Then they too fell back. As the Elementals advanced Red felt something building in the air, a hair raising chill. Then Orthino opened his maw and out poured a wall of swirling, icy, death that extinguished the fire elementals where they stood. "Now then that should solve our problem for them moment, but where did those creatures come from. Elementals have not been seen here in thousands of years."
"Yeah we found the source of them," Grish said.
"Its another time rift, like the one I got sucked through when I first met K and Spyro and them, but stable," Hags added.
"Blarg, I thought we had fixed those," Redford said, "Can we close it?"
"Only one way to find out," Orthino replied as he moved farther into the tunnel, "Show me."