Chapter 23

I repeated the process for accessing the Portal ring in the basement of the transport tower in Toukal. Dropping down to find an almost identical layout below, with the same amount of armor and boxes laid out around the portal.

I paid them no mind this time and quickly activated the Portal before teleporting back to the top of the tower.

When I returned, some of my friends had already started to appear. Destruction had come with Hakan, Kraeyuk and Rakle. Peace brought Inez and Dawnsinger.

Grigor and Harle and Karius arrived to, mostly to point out that they couldn’t actually transport the others without Void storage of their own.

“Destruction, will you go pick up Devotion, Mal, and Gabriella. Peace, will you go and grab, Danivra, Andalar and Aslin, please.

“And then you’ll explain to me what's going on?” Destruction asked quickly.

I raised a brow. “What did Aly tell you?"

"Only that you needed us all in Toukal quickly. I’m assuming you either have Hakan trapped again, or you have a plan to do so.”

“Neither,” I replied swiftly. “Now go get the others and bring them to the Admin Hub in Onnekus. I’ll meet you there and explain.”

As the two goddesses left, I become for the rest of them to follow me through the transporters.

The moment I set foot back on Onnekus, Aly spoke.

Clive, we may have a problem.

“Can it wait until I’ve got the people moving?”

It cannot. The portal room may be unsafe. The guardians have awoken.

“The who did what now?” Though I had a horrible feeling I already knew.

What you thought were suits of armor are constructs of some kind. I do not know much about them, only that they are not directly controlled by the Administration Systems and that they are called the guardians.

“Well, bugger me. I best go and see what they’re about.” I cast a look over at Hakan and the demons. “I need to quickly check something. I should be back in a minute. I didn’t wait for a response and teleported down to the basement.

My wildest dreams couldn’t have prepared me for what awaited. On my arrival, one hundred and twenty armored guardians all braced to attack.

A second later, as they laid eyes on me, they all straightened first and as one, dropped to one knee in a strange kind of bow. All chanted the same words in in a rage of tones from rumbling deep to almost piercingly high.

Blessed be the Universal Administrator.

I didn’t have time to be self-conscious, so I offered them a wave and a smile. “Hey! What’s your intention here as guardians?”

“To serve your will,”

Came the chant and I shivered. I wanted to ask what they were. Why they were here. But I also didn’t have much time and didn’t want to show ignorance just yet. I had enough going on.

“The protection around this place is set to fall I’m trying to evacuate the people who live here and then I’m gonna destroy the city.”

“If the protection falls, we will defend you and those who have not made it to safety. On our honor.”

The communal multi tonal voice was really starting to freak me out, but the message it delivered was music to my ears. I didn’t know how tough these things were, but I doubted they’d be weak if they were stowed away like this in case of emergencies.

“I’m going to be sending people down here soon, so don’t be alarmed.”

We can detect hostile intent. Your charges will be safe with us.

Barely able to hold a thought in my head, I nodded to the gathered guardians and said the only words that would bubble from my lips. “Thank you.”

Then I teleported out of there, appearing high above the city, my mind full of questions about the guardians, but determined to set things in motion. The streets were filled with terrified people, as I’d hoped. Obviously not the terrified part. I projected my voice. "Okay everyone! I need you all to start moving toward the transport tower. There is a ramp that leads underground and down that ramp you will find a portal. Through that portal lies safety. Here there is only death.

As people began to move in the direction I pointed, I flew at walking speed at the head of the group furthest forward and led them to the tower.

Once I reached the opening, I offered a few words of encouragement, and then flew to the top of the tower again.

Everyone was there now. They were all looking at me with expectant eyes, apart from Sania who came to stand with me, her warm hand on my shoulder calmed stress and tension I didn't even realise I’d been carrying with me until it melted away under her touch.

“Okay everyone. I don’t know how much you’ve parsed from what you’ve heard so far, but the bottom line is that we have a complete and utter clusterfuck in the making. I don’t know how, but Hakan has managed to throw his Sphere of Influence around Onnekus, which includes this Admin Hub. and in doing so, he's breaking down the Distortion Field that protects us . We have about…”

Three and a half hours

“And I'm sure I don’t need to explain how much of a serious fucking problem that is. I’ve set the people here to escaping through emergency portal rings beneath the Transport Towers. They should get through with plenty of time, but on an unusual side note, we have an automated defense system. Don’t even ask me what I mean by that, because I don’t know.” I added with a lame chuckle.

“Then what are we doing here?” Destruction asked. “Do you expect trouble?”

“Always. But I’m hoping we can extract from here before the barrier drops. Otherwise, the containment field will trap us and we’ll all be…” I drew a line across my throat with my thumb.

“As for what I need from you lot? Well that’s pretty simple. Once this place is evacuated, we’re going to destroy everything inside this Admin hub.”

Natom rubbed his hands together at that. "Now that sounds like an excellent way to practice Hell Storm! Let's get to work!"

“I think you must have blanked on the most important part, Natom. Everyone needs to be outta here. And what the hell is Hell Storm?”

“Something Natom and I concocted,” Destruction said proudly.

“He,” she said pointing an elegant red finger at Natom. “Has a pulsating attack that he starts from his feet and emits across the course of his body using a mix of light and Neutral. It’s potent enough, but we developed it a little more, removing light of course, as I can’t use that.”

Natom jumped in eagerly the moment Destruction paused. “Destruction copied, but replaced Light with Fire! That intrigued me, so I added Air and a Physical spin to the move to carry the flames even further and give them a lashing action.”

“Then,” Destruction intervened again, casting a sour look at Natom for stealing her thunder. “I added a Gravity tendril to each lashing flame, to prevent escapees from our wrath. That won’t work on buildings, but as an attack, we think it will be very potent.”

I looked at them both for a minute, going over their words. I eventually smiled. “And this is why it was worth working together. “Great work guys. Hope you don’t mind if I steal the attack.”

Natom bristled, but wisely said nothing.

“Now, if you want to make yourselves useful, you can make sure no one’s left behind. Search out any hiders, and hurry everyone else up.”

I knew I had to look and Destruction and Natom again. “Politely. Be nice, but let’s get these people out of here.”

At that command, everyone but Sania and Danivra left. I didn’t ask them to stay but I was glad they had. I hugged Sania first, and then to her surprise, hugged Danivra next.

She accepted it with good grace and smiled.

“It’s crazy that you two are the two I’d most want to be leveled and have full access as Administrators, and yet you’re in the very small list of those who haven’t.”

“You’ve already done enough for me,” Danivra said, straightening up with pride.”

“And I know why you’ve done what you have and you’ve made the right decisions.” Sania added. “I’m more worried about how you’re doing.” She laid a hand on my shoulder and met my eye. “You’re running yourself ragged.”

“Aye, and I’ll continue to do so until either Hakan or me is dead. You know that bastard isn’t taking any down-time right?”

Danivra scowled at me. “Even so. Losing you through exhaustion is not an option.”

I shrugged. “I’ve been blessed to live this long. If I can save all of you, it’s a trade I’d happily take.”

“As would we all!” Danivra snapped. “But not through carelessness. Not through giving up on yourself to fire fight Hakan’s attacks. “You need to focus on yourself Clive. It’s more important now than ever.”

“She’s right Clive. It has to be time that you pull back and train. If you can train us too, then perhaps we can carry more of the burden.”

“You are training,” I said tiredly. Not even close to being in the mood for this conversation. “You two are the glue that holds me together, and soon I’ll be boosting the pair of you. Part of me doesn’t actually want to, because then you’ll have to share more of the weight of expectation with me, and that’s not something I’d wish on any one I love. But you’re the two people who’ve gotten me through this. I winced, and Joel, to be sure. And he’s not going to like what I have planned for him either, but… I will shut up shop once we get out of here, and I will be boosting you both. For now, let’s get to work.”

(Hey all, I just want to give you a little update: My son, William was discharged last friday, so I thought we were free and clear. Unfortunately we had to rush him back to hospital on Sunday. He's in a stable condition and we hope to have him home again soon, but needless to say it's been epic, and worrying. I'm running around like a blue arsed fly at the minute, but I'm sneaking in some words here and there. I'll be posting chapters as often as I can, but it may be a little chaotic for a little while. Thank you for your patience and bearing with me while i navigate this hurdle.)