Outcasts, page 26
Abovian acknowledged with a comm click.
Vale retrieved the Sangheili’s deactivated energy sword and affixed it to her armor, then fired off a fan of plasma bolts to locate any more of their unseen enemies. When none of her shots deflected, she hoisted Golly into a fireman’s carry and turned toward the rotunda.
Abovian and Petrov were flanking the middle archway with weapons shouldered, but Iyuska was nowhere to be seen.
As Vale approached, she called, “Don’t tell me—she didn’t wait?”
“No. She didn’t.” Petrov opened fire across the courtyard, and Vale glanced back to see the distant flash of energy swords weaving through the shard displays. “And I don’t blame her, either.”
CHAPTER 20
Thel ‘Vadam saw muzzle flashes and realized the humans were firing at his warriors. Or at least in their direction. The first battle sounds had arisen before he commanded his followers to activate their energy swords, so perhaps the ODSTs were targeting someone else.
Or perhaps they had just misinterpreted. After all, to a squad of human soldiers, a line of approaching energy swords might appear to be trouble, rather than badly needed help.
“Blades off!” He spoke over the battlenet. “Find cover and await my order.”
‘Vadam stepped behind a long ribbon of diaphanous blue metal. Glowing faintly and mounted on a stand of roughly cut steel, it was the source of the chamber’s rapidly fading light. ‘Ayomuu crouched low on his left. The Oath Warden had discarded his armor after the seals and sizing bladders were destroyed by ‘Kvarosee’s mysterious dissolving agent, but he continued to wear his long helmet, despite the absence of voicemitter and eye pieces. The headgear had to be uncomfortable, but ‘Ayomuu seemed loath to remove it—even for a moment.
Varo’dai stopped on ‘Vadam’s right. Her armor remained intact, as did that of all her rangers, for they had been far enough back to avoid the effects of ‘Kvarosee’s attack.
‘Ra’ashai stood in the open, clad in his Sanctum’s Hide armor, unafraid of mere human bullets. He was looking toward the heart of the vast chamber, which was filled with a collection of large metal fragments mounted on display stands. He claimed they would find the Divine Hand in the Inner Sanctum, located in the heart of the strange gallery.
Where the humans were firing from.
‘Vadam dropped prone and looked under the ribbon of diaphanous metal, searching the shadowy forms ahead for any hint of tel inhabitants. According to ‘Ra’ashai, ‘Kvarosee had only seven warriors, including himself. ‘Ayomuu had killed one during the ambush, and ‘Ra’ashai had changed sides. So only five remained.
Between himself and Varo’dai, ‘Vadam had sixteen warriors left, plus ‘Ayomuu and ‘Ra’ashai. ‘Vadam did not know how many ODSTs Vale had with her, but it would be at least one squad numbering seven troopers. As the self-proclaimed Worldmaster, ‘Kvarosee was badly outnumbered, with enemies both in front and behind him.
Still, ‘Vadam could not feel confident of any advantage, not against the strange technology at ‘Kvarosee’s disposal.
It had already cost ‘Vadam dearly. He had lost half his landing party when the Guardian killer was fired—an unanticipated consequence that was making him wonder how practical it would actually be in the defense of Sanghelios—then ‘Talot and all his warriors had been buried when ‘Kvarosee collapsed the tunnel. ‘Vadam had to admit to a certain relief that the Oath Warden could no longer target ‘Talot with his subversion efforts. But that was small comfort for the loss of one of his oldest allies—especially when it had been ‘Vadam’s decision to place ‘Talot and his warriors in such a vulnerable position.
‘Vadam had been so confident in his ability to detect an ambush that he had given little thought to ‘Talot’s ability to repel one. The old kaidon had clearly been out of his element in those strange dust tunnels and unprepared to react quickly, and he had wasted time questioning ‘Vadam’s command when he should have been obeying it. Though how any warrior fought off a deliberate tunnel collapse was difficult to know. The only way would have been to counter the ambush before it was sprung, and ‘Vadam’s lack of experience in the tel’s strange environment had resulted in an inevitable deployment error. He had been arrogant, and it had cost the life of an ally.
It was not a mistake he would make again.
Another burst of gunfire sounded, and bullets ricocheted off one of the fragment displays ahead.
“Arbiter, did you not say that you and the Spartan had struck an agreement?” ‘Ayomuu asked. “That you were not to interfere with each other?”
“We did.”
“Are you surprised that a human has broken her agreement, Oath Warden?” Varo’dai asked. “Is that not how this started—when a human studymaster betrayed your client?”
“Nothing a human does surprises me, Kaidon,” ‘Ayomuu said. “But Spartan Vale and her ODSTs have reached the Inner Sanctum first. I was merely reminding the Arbiter of their treachery so he will allow me to—”
“This might not be treachery.” ‘Ra’ashai pointed into the gloom ahead, toward some small shadows on the floor. “It could be a mistake—or mistaken identity.”
‘Vadam peered at the shadows, trying first to discern what they were, and when that failed, what was casting them. It was an impossible task in such dim lighting.
“Explain,” ‘Vadam said. “All I see are shadows.”
“What you see is Sanctum’s Hide,” ‘Ra’ashai said, “dying away on the bodies of three of the Worldmaster’s warriors.”
No sooner had the blademaster spoken than ‘Vadam saw the shapes of shoulders and feet and elbows, and the profile of a Sangheili face. But he could not see the outlines of the bodies themselves—or even a shadow large enough to be a body.
“I can tell there are dead Sangheili on the ground,” ‘Vadam said. “Why can I not see them?”
“Think of it as enhanced active camouflage.” As ‘Ra’ashai spoke, he vanished from sight. “If I wish to remain unseen, all I need do is think it, and the Sanctum’s Hide bends light around me.”
An energy sword activated next to ‘Ra’ashai’s voice—his sword. “But it cannot conceal what it does not cover.”
Gunfire sounded as the blademaster spoke. ‘Vadam heard the crack of supersonic rounds flying past ‘Ra’ashai’s brightly shining blade. When the energy sword deactivated, the gunfire ceased.
“ ‘Kvarosee and his warriors were attacking the humans… with energy swords,” ‘Ra’ashai said. “When they saw our blades, they assumed the worst.”
“Of course,” ‘Vadam said. “They thought we were ‘Kvarosee’s reinforcements… not theirs.”
“We can hardly blame them.” ‘Ra’ashai’s voice moved behind the ribbon fragment with ‘Vadam and the others, then he reappeared. “In their place, I would have done the same.”
“And that is why we should give them another chance to attack us?” ‘Ayomuu asked. “Because perhaps the first time was a mistake?”
“Actually, no,” ‘Ra’ashai said. “We should give them another chance because it is the wise thing to do.”
“Or at least the easy thing.” Varo’dai ran her gaze down the blademaster’s thick-waisted form, but left unspoken the implication that ‘Ra’ashai was an expert at doing the easy thing. Instead, she continued, “I fail to see how letting the humans reach the Guardian killer before we do is wise. Now that they have broken the agreement, we are no longer under any obligation to honor it ourselves.”
“Forgive me,” ‘Ra’ashai replied. “I said wise, but perhaps I should have said safe.”
“Safe?” ‘Ayomuu asked. “What is safe about letting the humans take such a weapon for themselves?”
‘Ra’ashai directed his reply to ‘Vadam. “Their Spartan fought three warriors she could not see. All three wore armor her weapons could not penetrate. And yet, they are all dead.” He nodded at ‘Ayomuu. “The Oath Warden killed one warrior he could see, and you almost killed me. Do you really think that voiding your agreement with that Spartan, on a mere technicality, is the wise move here?”
“She fired on us,” Varo’dai said. “That is more than a technicality. It was a betrayal, and it is what humans—”
“It was a mistake,” ‘Ra’ashai interrupted. “And not that of the humans. I should have realized—”
“No,” ‘Vadam said. “I see what you are doing, Blademaster. But I am the one who gave the command to activate our blades.” He turned to Varo’dai. “The blame is mine, Kaidon, and mine alone. Would you have me compound my mistake by using their confusion as an excuse to break my word?”
Varo’dai dropped her gaze. “I know you too well to think you would ever dishonor yourself that way.”
“Then we are in agreement.” Normally, ‘Vadam would have believed the same of Varo’dai, but when it came to humans, she might not have any honor. “If the humans have already entered the Inner Sanctum and claimed the weapon, then we will do what we can to help them extract it. The most important thing is to stop the Tyrant.”
“Very wise, Arbiter,” ‘Ayomuu said. “It will keep us close by, in case there should come a… need… for a change of possession.”
“There will be no need, Oath Warden,” ‘Vadam warned. “I will guarantee that personally, if the humans have already recovered the weapon.”
“And I am certain they will find your guarantee as reassuring as I do,” ‘Ayomuu said. “If they have the weapon.”
“We will know soon enough.” ‘Vadam caught ‘Ra’ashai’s eye and glanced toward ‘Ayomuu, signaling the blademaster to watch the Oath Warden, then stepped out from behind the ribbon and called out in English, “Spartan Vale, kindly hold your fire!”
“Arbiter?!”
“Indeed.” ‘Vadam activated his helmet lamps and shone the beams toward her voice, but saw only a thicket of fragment displays. “I apologize for alarming you with our weapons.”
“That was you?”
“It was indeed. We heard the sounds of combat and found human casualties, and I wanted you to know help was near.”
“Many thanks,” Vale called. “But keep your guard up. You won’t see the enemy until he attacks—and even then, not for long.”
“So I have been told. We are looking at three of their dead. It appears their cloaking technology has not spared them from you.”
“It has spared more of them than I’d like. I estimate there are still four out there.”
“Our intelligence says two. We eliminated one in the dust tunnels, and another”—‘Vadam realized ‘Kvarosee might be listening to them call back and forth, then thought better of revealing that ‘Ra’ashai had changed sides—“is in our custody.”
“The same bunch?”
“We are confident. We followed them down from above.”
“Good news,” Vale said. “The last two are injured. You’ll see indications when you cross the courtyard.”
“Then you do not object if we advance?”
“I was hoping you will,” Vale said. “We can use the support.”
Once they stopped calling to each other, ‘Ra’ashai turned to ‘Vadam. “Perhaps more light would be helpful.” ‘Ra’ashai pointed at the ribbon of diaphanous metal behind which they had stopped. “Shine your lamps there, and it will come.”
‘Vadam did as the blademaster suggested, and his lamp beam seemed to melt into the ribbon’s interior and spread along its entire length. The metal ribbon began to emit a piercing blue glow a thousand times more intense than the original light, and suddenly the entire chamber was illuminated in a harsh, unpleasant radiance.
‘Vadam had seen too many wonders in too many places across the galaxy to be awestruck by the phenomenon, but he was happy to have the extra light to make their advance safer and quicker. He commanded Varo’dai to follow fifty paces behind with a ranger screen, then moved through the gallery with ‘Ayomuu and ‘Ra’ashai beside him and his own warriors watching their flanks.
They paused briefly at the trio of bodies ‘Ra’ashai had pointed out earlier, long enough to identify the fallen. As the blademaster rolled the corpses about, it grew apparent they were not quite as invisible to him as to everyone else, and ‘Vadam began to pick up on subtle cues that helped him locate the bodies too—a light beam bending around a limb or torso, or a shifted shadow that suggested a light source blocked by something he could not see.
Half of “seeing” the invisible corpses, he realized, was simply expecting them to be there.
The other half was that their Sanctum’s Hide was rapidly decaying, leaving ever larger patches of body exposed to the harsh light that now filled the chamber.
After a few moments, ‘Ra’ashai rose and shook his head. “It is only Democ, Kleon, and Balyasi. The Worldmaster and his worm remain a threat.”
“His worm?”
“His adjutant from when he was a fleetmaster. Tam ‘Lakosee.”
“Ah,” ‘Vadam said. “Then let us continue. After our last meeting, I am eager to speak with the Worldmaster again.”
“Not I,” ‘Ayomuu said. “I have no intention of letting him speak at all.”
“Just do not kill him,” ‘Ra’ashai said. “Not if you hope to claim the Divine Hand.”
“The Divine Hand?” ‘Vadam asked. “What is that?”
“The reason you are here. It is the weapon that stopped the human drop wave.”
And inadvertently killed half my landing party, ‘Vadam added silently.
“The connection is not clear to me,” ‘Ayomuu said. “Why do we need ‘Kvarosee alive to recover the Divine Hand?”
“Because I am not sure I would recognize it. Only ‘Kvarosee has used it, and only he and ‘Lakosee have been inside the Inner Sanctum where it is located.”
They reached a small square devoid of any more fragment displays. Ten paces ahead, a line of dark metal columns stood before a stone rotunda polished to an opalescent sheen. A series of dark archways opened into the rotunda wall, and flanking the entrance in the middle were Spartan Vale and a diminutive female ODST with a five-round grenade launcher. On the ground next to them lay a wounded trooper who was practically Vale’s size, being cared for by Commander Petrov.
“If that is all that remains of her force,” ‘Ra’ashai said softly, “I see why she wanted your support.”
“Watch what you say,” ‘Vadam warned. “She speaks Sangheili, and Spartan ears hear everything.”
“I am aware.” ‘Ra’ashai turned toward the rotunda and raised his voice. “I am with the Arbiter now. Do not kill me, and I will find the Worldmaster for you.”
Vale extended her arm and pointed a thumb upward, in that odd human gesture used to indicate a confusing array of positive reactions.
‘Vadam started to inform ‘Ra’ashai she had agreed to his terms, but the blademaster was already striding across the square… to a bloody mandible lying on the ground. He crouched next to it for a moment, then looked back over his shoulder. By the time ‘Vadam and ‘Ayomuu caught up to him, ‘Ra’ashai was following a bloody smear toward the rotunda.
‘Vadam turned toward Vale. “Beware, the Worldmaster is coming your way!”
“But not to fight,” ‘Ra’ashai added calmly. He cut across the courtyard toward a point a quarter of the way around the rotunda from Vale. “To hide.”
The blademaster stopped at the cage of metal support columns and activated his energy sword. He was looking into the space between the farthest visible archway and the last visible column, where the bloody smear ended in the still-bleeding fossa of a missing mandible. As ‘Vadam studied the scene, he began to discern the diaphanous shapes of two Sangheili males, one dragging the other by one shoulder.
“Show yourself now, Tam, and the Worldmaster will live,” ‘Ra’ashai called out. “Hesitate, and only he will die.”
An angry, incomprehensible snarl rose from the figure on the ground—all ‘Kvarosee could manage with the terrible injury to his mouth. Then the figure dragging the Worldmaster grew visible, and ‘Vadam recognized him as the slender warrior who had been holding the human civilian during his first meeting with the tel inhabitants. Presumably, he was the one ‘Ra’ashai had addressed as Tam.
Tam ‘Lakosee. The worm.
‘Lakosee was clutching his free arm—likely his sword arm—to his chest. Even from five paces away, ‘Vadam could see the forearm bleeding from a compound fracture.
“The gods will punish your betrayal,” ‘Lakosee announced, “even if I cannot.”
“I am content to take my chances with either of you. Now toss me the Worldmaster’s weapons and step away. I will watch over him while you assist the Arbiter.”
‘Lakosee rasped in frustration, but he released ‘Kvarosee’s shoulder and dropped to his haunches. He lobbed an energy sword and plasma pistol toward ‘Ra’ashai, then stood and took a single step forward. “I have the promise of the Silent Shadow? No harm will come to the Worldmaster?”
“You have my promise he will survive if you do as I have commanded—and that he will die in agony if you do not.” ‘Ra’ashai gathered the weapons and tossed them to one of ‘Vadam’s warriors, then looked back to ‘Kvarosee. “But the harm that the Worldmaster suffers will depend on what he attempts.”
‘Lakosee glanced toward ‘Kvarosee and let his chins drop, no doubt because he knew the Worldmaster would never accept defeat without trying something desperate.
“What will ‘Kvarosee do?” ‘Vadam asked.
‘Lakosee pumped his mandibles upward in a gesture of uncertainty. “I doubt he can do anything, but I am sure the blademaster will enjoy making him regret whatever he tries.” ‘Lakosee squared himself toward ‘Vadam. “Tell me what you want. Perhaps I can deliver it before the Worldmaster’s actions cost him another mandible.”
“You seem very loyal to him.” ‘Vadam had not missed how quickly ‘Ra’ashai had gone to using the former fleetmaster as leverage against ‘Lakosee, and ‘Vadam wanted to know whether that motivation could be trusted—and how best to use it to ensure ‘Lakosee’s honest cooperation. “Is it the Worldmaster you serve, or your gods?”
