Aquila IX – Cornered

  Loki Gearhead approached the front of the caravan with Yang bearing the unresponsive Beryl. The avalanche blocked the road which forced the procession to halt.  The suffering chef would have been grateful for the rest if they were not being hunted by fell beasts consumed by hunger.  Fearful mummers were being passed along that the Koudra created this slide from the trees high above.

   The urchin was not concerned about the illusory Koudra.  Tepic scared one with his pistol not that long ago.  They attacked Ms. Falcon but she walked away from that fight.  The beasts were less dangerous to Loki’s mind because he had never seen what they could do.  They could not be worse than the creatures that plagued New Babbage.

  What concerned the young lad now was Jeffrey Cortman and Beryl.  Tepic had suddenly drawn his gun and run out of the kitchen when he learned the lads last name.  He wasn’t sure how Jeffrey was related but he assumed Tepic suspected they would be betrayed.  That meant they needed to escape on their own.  That was impossible unless Loki found someway to help Beryl.

  As they watched their comatose friend miserably, trying to think of a safe method to deactivate the device, Loki started at seeing one of Beryl’s eyes open independently of the other.  Their orange eye stared at Loki intently and then darted towards the right multiple times.

  The urchin turned where he was indicated.   He had not realized they reached the edge of the avalanche.  Trees, rocks, and snow dammed their passage.  They could walk over it carefully but it would prevent the passage of the mobile cannons.  The lieutenant that Dr. Hartschlägel left in charge was considering his options with other senior operatives.  There had been no air support for some time leaving them to assume they had been abandoned.

  Loki turned back to Beryl wondering what they were supposed to see.  The eye again darted in the same direction only this time Loki noted the mobile cannon.  Someone had placed the case for the aetheric dampener on the backside of the vehicle.  It would have the keys required to safely take off the device.

 All he needed was someone to run interference and create a distraction.  The lad looked at Yang but suspected this was not one of the chef’s talents.  Still they didn’t have much choice.  Loki spoke confidentially to Yang getting close, “Oi neeh yer to keep these bastards buseh fer a minu’e.  Oi’s gonna knick the key to thu collar!”  

  Yang looked at the urchin in surprise.  He shook his head muttering back, “How do you propose I keep them busy?  Dress in silks and do a shimmy?”

  Loki thought about it while staring at the chef flatly, “Jus tell ‘em yer needs ter pee.  Th’y canna leave Ms. Beryl on yer back while yer pee.”

  Without another word Loki have an encouraging pat to Yang’s shoulder and then quietly moved into position.  The men’s haunted eyes were on the avalanche and foliage, they forgot about their smallest captive.  

  While Yang went forward and awkwardly requested assistance to relieve himself, the crafty urchin felt in his element.  This was just like popping open crates back home and finding his kind of treasures.  

 Yang found that the situation different than he expected.  One of the airship pilots was calling from the other side of the avalanche.  Yang forgot his intended distraction as he listened to the voice give short quick responses. The pilot was telling them to go through the ravine.

 Loki noted that this was his chance.  He rushed to the case and opened it like it had not been secured.  The child grabbed the keys swiftly and resealed the container leaving it as if he had never been there.  He retreated back to his position with no one seemed to be aware of his quick adventure.  Yang returned looking exhausted and scared.

  “We need to escape soon Master Loki,” the hoarse chef did not have to struggle to whisper.  It was difficult to speak at all.  “The Koudra are mimicking their friends.  Leading these men into a trap.”

  Loki’s mirth fell as he handed Yang the key.  The chef hid it as the lieutenant rose his voice and announced the orders to the other men.  “We need to double back and go north through the ravine!  Fly boys said we can connect to a side road!”

                                          ***********   

  After nearly twenty minutes of darkness the tram was finally coming to a stop near the lights.  Tepic couldn’t see the clockwork guardians.  He pulled on the rope releasing the slip knot early.  He fell to the ground skidding only a little from his own inertia thanks to his pack.  

  The tram passed over him while he laid mostly still, only taking the time to wrap the rope as a belt.  Once clear Tepic rolled over and rushed to the station, climbing up to the metal catwalks and running into the stone corridoors.  

  “Hold!”  Leisig shouted as he waited for the vehicle to come to a complete stop.  But Tepic wasn’t listening.  He knew the motion would upset their aim.  The urchin ran through the passageways distancing himself from the hunter.  The older man possessed a longer stride but he was heavier and slower.  Tepic outdistanced him but the hunter seemed unshakeable.

  He had already used most of his oils but he threw a few caltrops from his pockets.  His pursuer jumped over them at a run, his equipment jostling slightly.  He always made sure they were secure for the hunt.  Growing desperate Tepic looked for a quick place to lay his trip wire.  After turning a corner he tied one end to a catwalk and then the other then ran.  The grizzled fellow didn’t see the trip wire, but he caught himself on the railing.  He was closer now than before.  

    Tepic was tired of being chased by a hunter who reeked of dogs.  It might have to come to a more direct approach between him and this hunter.  He was coming to an open doorway and metallic walls beyond. His young mind was thinking of some way he could reverse his fortune when he felt his fur bristling.  

  When he passed the doors he shut them quickly and turned to see his situation.  He could taste the energy in the air.  Taking off a small patch of loose fur from his ears he dropped it onto the metal flooring beyond the alcove.  It burst into flames on contact.  

  The hunter reached the closed doors.  Regretfully, Tepic knew he only had one option left.  

                                          ***********

  Dr. Falcon and Mr. Wright had gone through the arranged challenges that Doctor Dupyre previously prepared for them. Trials serving only to test the two pursuers who were starting to show signs of stress.  Their wounds sealed either through mechanical or unnatural means, but each of their coats was stained with their blood and the grease from their enemies.  

  They were both ready to put an end to the mad doctor.  They charged one last time jumping over the electric flooring and into their next challenge.  From the moment the companions entered they knew this room was different.   Thick mechanical doors swung shut robotically and a loud familiar hum began to fill the room.  They could see the aetheric dampening field generators posed on the roof.  Already the companions could feel the effects limiting them in seperate ways.

  Dupyre had led them into an arena.  While he was safely on a story high above them with half an army of pirates, soldiers, and researchers anticipating the upcoming spectacle.  They were jeering and heckling the two companions upon their entrance.  

  The wolf growled menacingly as he measured the distance between himself and the cocky crowd, but he noted the upper floor protected.  Round mechanical nozzles aimed directly at him and Dr. Falcon. Behind Dupyre was Doctor Gammis unable to meet their gaze, and Hartschlägel who was watching the contestants eagerly.  

                                          ***********

  Leisig kicked open the door while keeping himself out of the kill zone hiding behind the wall as it swung open.  He turned to find Tepic was reaching for his gun, but he brandished his crossbow at the urchin.  

  “I will shoot you, child,” Leisig warned him.  “Once you pick up gun you choose to be treated as grown man, not boy.”

   Tepic studied the grizzled hunter for a moment, noting his silver instruments and crossbow.  The lad placed the gun on the ground slowly and lifted his hands.  “Errr, what about me knives?”

 “Place on ground.”  The rough fellow ordered as he watched the fox closely.  He was expecting the vulpine moreau to try something.  The trip wire and caltrops had proven it was mischievous.  

  Tepic unloaded his pockets slowly making no sudden movements as a wide assortment of items littered the ground.  They were emptier than when he started with weeks ago, but it was still a good amount.  

  “Now your pack,”  Leisig indicated it with his weapon.  “Remove and open.”

  Tepic nodded as he sighed.  He removed the backpack and slowly opened it.  The Hunter started when he thought he saw movement within.  He shifted his crossbow bolt to the opening as Tepic opened the flaps.

  Bunny leapt out at Leisig going for his head with terror.  He opened fire but the arrow bounced off of the metal clockwork as it scrambled up the crossbow and tried to latch itself to Leisig’s face.  The aether its sensors detected, feeling the brunt of falling off the tram in the pack, everything was overwhelming the terrified automata.

  The Hunter struggled with the clockwork until he heard a click of a gun being prepared.  He and the Bunny froze as they turned to look at the crafty fox now pointing his weapon at the hunter and loosening his rope belt.

  Leisig looked at the weapon apprehensively,  “You will not shoot.”

  “Yer a hunter, I’s a fox,”  Tepic replied with a nasty triumphant grin.  “An I’s a Babbage urchin, reckon yer want ter reconsider…”

  “You are from Babbage, yes?” Leisig said as he put Bunny down slowly. “You will not shoot.  You would upset creature.  The one you call ‘cloud angel’.”

  Tepic nearly shot the man out of shock.