Grim Revelations

Zuric pulled himself onto the rooftop edge. Scaling the compound wall had been only mildly challenging. He glanced around. Two sentries. One at the far corner, the other atop the west tower. They hadn’t seen him, and he meant to keep it that way. He stayed low, moving quickly and quietly.

Approaching the base of the tower, he pressed and ran his hand along the wall. It should be right… A sound clicked. A small square in the stone gave way. Moments later, a slab of the wall slid right, opening to reveal an entryway. Zuric felt a small rush of satisfaction. The intel he’d extracted from the younger Voda brother proved true enough. Setting his teeth, he slipped inside and proceeded down a spiraling staircase.

Inside, the base sprawled wide. Danger could be anywhere; better stick to the high ground. Strategic equipment and open windows let him slip onto rafter beams above, gliding undetected over guards and contraband.

Navigating further inside, he found his way to a control panel. Several monitors lined the wall above it. Three patrolled guards; two standing together by the wall closest to him, another by the screens. Zuric crouched, waiting for the right moment. He got it when one of the guards turned and stepped towards the doorway, leaving his partner alone. Quiet as a cat, Zuric dropped down and closed on the first guard’s back. His hand covered his mouth as his other arm wrapped around his neck. The chokehold stole his consciousness in seconds.

“Hey!” The monitor guard shouted as Zuric lowered the body. Snatching the first victim’s baton, Zuric hurled it, striking the second guard in the temple. The last guard, gathering a green aura between his hands, rose. Zuric lunged, delivering a kick under his chin, sending him crashing through the glass. He didn’t get back up..

Straightening, Zuric took a breath, letting it out slowly. The men’s pain would linger long after they woke up, but they’d survive. Owain’s wrinkled face rose into his mind, forcing him to shake the thought away. No one else had to die if he could help it.

Onto more important things. Turning, Zuric approached the control panel and studied the screens. The largest displayed a virtual map of the compound, marking his current location with a red asterisk. Working his fingers across the keypad, he searched for the security camera’s access points. It was a short search. Pressing keys to cycle through the viewpoints, he was eventually shown a spacious chamber full of rough-looking criminals. His eyes narrowed, sweeping across the group.

There! Off to the side, standing alone, was a wiry man with a messy ponytail. Tattooed on the left side of his face was an unmistakable snake symbol. The elder Voda brother. Zuric’s fist squeezed tightly at his side. The answers he sought were within reach.

Sudden sounds from the doorway drew Zuric’s. Entering the room were three individuals in indigo-armored uniforms of varying designs. Champions. Ones he recognized. The tall, burly man in the lead was Eflane. As prideful as he was ambitious, but effective in the field. On the left was his young son, Gage. From what he knew, there was strain between them. And the short, silver-haired woman on the right was Beát. “Passionate,” she was often called.

Eflane’s eyes narrowed as he advanced, the others following. They formed a loose semicircle, effectively blocking Zuric’s exit. “Explain yourself,” Eflane demanded.

“Good evening,” Zuric replied with a brief, dry hint. “You must be some of the local champions of this region. I’ve heard tales of you, but I wasn’t expecting to find any in this isolated edge of the region.”

Eflane’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, he looked even more suspicious. “Cut the small talk. Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

“My name is Zuric,” the other said, maintaining his calm with effort. I’ve come from the mainland in pursuit of two criminals with ties to the underground. I’ve gathered that the smuggling taking place is a new activity of theirs.”

Gage’s brow wrinkled. “Zuric? Never heard of it.”

Eflane’s eyes flickered briefly to Beát, who shrugged. “From the mainland, eh?” He returned his gaze to Zuric. “You’re aware that civilians entering designated crime scenes is against the law?”

“A reasonable edict,” Zuric said. “But I would point out that I’d arrived here just short of an hour ago. This place may not have been given that label until your more recent entry.”

Eflane’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t seem able to argue the point. Beát, however, didn’t hold her tongue. “Yeah, that still doesn’t mean you can waltz in here and attack those guys.” She jabbed her thumb at the unconscious figures on the floor. “And using aura without a written permit is super illegal.”

Zuric was surprised. Was using aura so regulated here? “I see. I was unaware of that. But that type of law would be inapplicable to me. I’m not blessed with the Breath.”

The champions looked even more surprised than he felt. It was Gage who voiced the question clearly on all their minds. “You mean you can’t use aura?”

“Indeed. I’m a mere ordinary human.”

Beát turned a glance to the smashed window and body near the entryway. “I dunno if that’s what I’d call it.”

Eflane’s eyes lingered on Zuric. Skepticism seemed to mix with begrudging respect as he. “Assuming what you say is true, why exactly are you here? What is this smuggler to you?”

“I’ve been trained for as long as I can remember to serve at the right hand of my father, Zek Forj, in his organization for a cause I believed to be honorable.” Determined filled Zuric’s chest, Dorin’s weeks-old claim stirring a heat inside him. “Now, a man has alleged him to be responsible for a host of crimes, including murder. I would know the truth.”

The champions shared a look. Zuric could see the wheels turning in their minds. They were taking his words seriously. “Zen Forj,” Eflane repeated. “I’ve heard the name before.”

“Boss!” The conversation was interrupted by another junior champion rushing into the room. He looked and sounded tense. “Good news and bad news. The good news is that our teams squeezed a layout of the place and details for the contraband from the other grunts.”

Eflane’s shoulders tensed. “And the bad news?”

“The drugs weren’t everything. They also brought insurance. A bomb big enough to wipe out half the compound.”

Beát jolted. “What?!”

“It hasn’t been triggered, thank the gods, but the thing’s huge. It’s gonna take at least four of us to move it far enough away to not risk any damage.”

Gage inhaled sharply. “How long will it take to get it out?”

“Us four? Maybe ten minutes, less if we hurry.”

Eflane hissed his teeth. “Which doesn’t leave us time to stop the main force of the force before they divvy up the goods and escape.”

“Leave them to me.”

Every head turned to Zuric. Eflane broke the silence. “You? By yourself?”

Rather than make issue of their obvious doubt, Zuric pointed to the largest chamber still on the feed. “The main contraband is being held here?”

Looking briefly, the junior nodded. “Yeah, big space to hold everything. Only one way in or out.”

“Then they will have no escape.” Zuric lifted his arm and adjusted its steel brace. “Be swift. I’ll be done by the time you return.”

Zuric didn’t wait for their reply before he was in motion. With all the speed his muscles allowed, he went rushing out the door and curving through the compound halls. He reached the storage chamber’s entrance in less than a minute. Sighting a loose pipe on the ground, he retrieved it and threaded it between the double door’s handles to bar his enemies’ exit.

An open vent hung above. With a jump, Zuric reached it, slipping through the space and finding himself twenty feet above the room full of criminals. With a deep, steadying breath, he leaped down.

And then the chaos began. He tore through the army using everything his father had taught him, and some moves that he’d invented himself. Several near misses and a few clean left their mark, but in the end, he stood victorious among a room strewn with unconscious bodies.

“Damn.”

A familiar, female voice drew Zuric's attention to the door. The champions entered, shock written across their faces. Eflane, as usual, spoke first as he neared. “You did all this?”

“As I promised,” Zuric said on his outbreath.

Eflane studied him, then scoffed, giving a ghost of a smile. “Not bad.”

“Hey, boss!” Beát called with an audible grin. “We’ve got a live one!”

A man with a tattooed face crawled uselessly near the panel. Zuric approached, making him cringe. “You… You weren’t supposed to be here!”

“You should have known that I would find you,” Zuric said evenly. “Now, speak. What is all this madness?”

The man’s face twisted into a grimace. Eflane stepped closer, towering over him. “You’d better start talking if you know what’s good for you.”

Cringing under the champion’s menace, the elder Voda grunted in defeat before speaking. “New project. Smuggling network to go between Afren, Truna, and Rotaire. A real money maker once it got rolling.”

“It will remain at rest,” said Zuric. “Tell me of Zek. What purpose would the Ten Hands have for scum like you?”

A sinister smile twisted on the criminal’s face. “You might not like the answer, ‘favorite son.’”

A sense of uneasiness pressed against Zuric’s calm, but he tried not to let it show. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

The elder Voda chuckled darkly. “Oh, you’ll definitely disapprove. Truth is, Zek’s been funneling the resources from this operation to a little side project. In fact, that bomb we had was his specific design. A prototype he just got done testing over in Truna.”

Zuric felt the color drain from his face. “What?”

The champions’ faces went to ash. “Testing?” Eflane demanded. “What kind of test?”

“You’re smart, I’m sure you can put it together. Some little farmer village up in West Heiba. I hear it was a real sight. Whoosh! Gone just like that.”

Zuric’s heart plummeted. An entire village of people. Families, children. Wiped out in an instant. “Heiba. But that was Owain’s home. Then…”

“Yup. That little old man your pops ordered you to kill was just some chump listening to the wrong conversation at the wrong time. One loose end for you to tie up. Congrats on a job well done.”

The world around Zuric disappeared. This was a different magnitude of betrayal. Every long, grueling hour of training. Everything he’d ever been told. Everything he’d known. His entire life, his noble purpose, the innocent man whose life he’d ended. All of it, just a cruel deception? His lethal hands closed into shaking fists as his chin dropped. A gap opened inside him, filling with a fury he’d never known. “My father did this?! MY FATHER?!”

The room went deathly silent, the other champions stunned by the outburst. The silence didn’t last long. The room’s giant computer screen flickered with static. Eflane’s stern voice spoke first, in both surprise and recognition. “Zen Forj!”

“The vaunted Protector of the North,” an aged voice droned. “And my wayward son.”

Hot venom surged through Zuric’s body, bleeding out into his words. “Father.” He slowly turned, and on the screen was the man who’d raised and trained him. The gaunt, bearded face that was as familiar as his own, now as alien as a distant star. Only now did he understand he’d never seen the man’s true face. “You lied to me.”

“I did no such thing. I told you Owain was a dangerous threat, which he was. A threat to my plans in the northern theater. You performed your duty well.”

Zuric looked away. His eyes dropped to the ground, fury twisting with guilt. “An innocent man is dead… Dead by my hand!”

“A necessary loss,” Zek said dismissively. “He was simply a tool in the grand design. As you were. As all are.”

Beát’s teeth bared in a fierce scowl. “Oh, that rat bastard!”

Eflane’s expression darkened. “You used your own son as a pawn in your twisted scheme?”

A shallow approximation of a laugh left Zek’s lips. “A curious sentiment from you, Number Two.”

The junior champions noticeably winced at the thinly veiled insult, their gazes going to Gage. Eflane clenched his jaw, but held Zek’s stare. “I have my regrets, but I’d never treat my child as a tool for evil.”

“Regardless,” Zek droned, “you have learned too much. It would be troublesome for you to leave here knowing what you do.”

As if summoned by Zek’s word, a set of hidden spaces opened at the room’s sides. Two humanoid golems, easily seven feet tall, emerged and lumbered towards the center. An array of hooded figures also dropped down as if from nowhere, flooding the chamber space and drawing weapons. One of them held forth their hand. Coils of green light sprang out, whipping through the air towards the champions. Beát sidestepped one of them. Gage wasn’t as quick; the shimmering coil snared his left arm and stuck it to the panel.

Eflane whipped with alarm to his son, but upon seeing no pain, he swept his hard gaze around the room to count the enemies, assuming a battle stance. “You really think this will stop us?”

“Zuric. Your walkabout has gone on far longer than I would have permitted. Eflane and his son may present a problem, but the others should be easily dealt with once they are no more. You can correct your mistake by disposing of these fools.”

“No.”

The firm, defiant tone word through the room. After a heavy pause, Zek’s tone came out like deep winter. “What did you say?”

“Understand this.” Zuric turned back to the panel, fixing his gaze on the man he once called father. “I will tear down everything that you have schemed to build. You will see your entire vile empire broken and scattered on the wind! And then, Zek Forj, I’m coming for you!”

Short gasps and looks of admiration rippled through the champions. Fury bloomed in Zek’s face, his lips peeling off his teeth. “Insolent boy! You dare to defy me?!”

A clean kick split the bind that held Gage’s arm. Zuric whirled to their enemies with lifted fists, ready to spill blood. “I dare.”

Beát grinned, forming two blades of pure silver power in her hands. “Now, that’s showing ‘em!”

Eflane smirked through a determined grunt, red aura blooming around his fists. Recovered, Gage summoned his own inner power, his entire body glowing blue as the other champions readied themselves.

“Then you will die with the rest of the filth!” Zek barked. “Kill them all, or you’ll answer to me!”

On his command, the assassins descended, and the warriors sprang to meet them.

The battle, if one could call it that, was over quickly. Though having a few close calls, Zuric and the rest of the champions were more than a match. Once more, Zuric stood among a litter of scattered bodies, adrenaline pulsing through him.

Turning his head, he saw Gage coming closer. The younger man sported a cut across the cheek and an energy burn on his shoulder, but he’d be fine. His expression was one of gratitude. “Thank you.”

Zuric let his features ease. “You’re welcome.”

Heavy footfalls marked Eflane’s approach. The tall champion met Shang’s eye, nodding. “You have my thanks for your assistance.”

Zuric nodded back. “And you mine.”

The Protector of the North cast a look around the chamber. “That detonation from earlier didn’t leave any bomb traces, but we got it well out of range in time. A larger force will arrive soon to sweep the area over for any remaining evidence. After that, we’ll be finished.

Zuric’s gaze turned to the shattered comm screen from where Zek’s image had been. His hand closed into a fist, determination filling his eyes. This wasn’t over for him. Not until all his father’s machinations, and the man himself, had been brought down. “No. My war has just begun.”