Firesign 1 - Wage Slave Rebellion (16 page)

Gavi dashed forward fifteen meters and crouched behind a drugstore sign. Ahead, the kidnappers continued their stealthy trot uninterrupted. Gavi’s finger went to her ear.

“I’m on Wardmont, going…” She hesitated, her mind zooming through the turns she took to get here. She dashed to a crumbling stoop ahead of her. “East,” she decided. “I think.”

“Got it.”

Silence for a moment. Gavi darted forward another few blocks.

“We’re going to start slowing down as we get closer. We’re about five streets away,”
said Raedren finally.
“I think.”

“Very encouraging,” said Gavi, her breath rasping in her ears. She squinted. The kidnappers were getting too far away, but there was a big open area ahead of her. If they looked back…

Gavi sprinted out of her hiding spot.

Ahead, the kidnappers stopped at an intersection and looked around, just as they had at every turn they had made so far. Gavi’s heart nearly seized up, but by the time they stopped she was already ducking into a recessed doorway. Her heart pounded as she counted down from ten.

She peeked out. They were gone. Gavi ran forward cautiously.

“We’re slowing down now,”
came Raedren’s voice in her head.
“Mazik says to keep on them until they stop. We don’t want too many of us right behind them. He’s going to try to get into position to flank them. Are you all right?”

Gavi peered around the corner, and found the kidnappers jogging down the deserted alley. She let flow mana into her tired muscles, washing away some of the fatigue.

“I’ll manage,” she said, and continued her pursuit.

*      *      *

Sometime later Gavi finally came to a stop, all but collapsing behind an empty dumpster, her chest heaving. Not long after, Mazik and Raedren carefully rounded the corner.

“What’s wrong?” asked Mazik as he reached her.

Gavi waved him away. “Nothing. Just tired. Was hard,” she said, her voice coming out in spurts.

“If anything is wrong, just tell me,” said Raedren as he joined them. “I can—”

“Later,” said Mazik. “So this is where they were hiding, those bastards….”

Down the alley and past a corner splashed with graffiti, Mazik could just barely make out their quarry. The four robed figures were clustered around the side door of a nondescript gray building, while their guest was slumped against the doorframe, still unconscious inside the sack.

As Mazik watched, the robed figures’ outlines shimmered as their invisibility spells faded away. Mazik immediately drained all of the mana out of his eyes, and not a second too soon—no sooner had he extinguished his spell did the robed figures begin looking around, searching for anyone who might have seen or followed them.

Mazik held himself absolutely still. He trusted in his hood and scarf to keep him hidden, provided he didn’t move or draw attention to himself.
Steady, self…
.

Satisfied that they hadn’t been seen, one of the kidnappers rapped on the door.

There was a long pause. One of the kidnappers picked at the door’s green paint, tearing off a piece and letting it flutter to the ground. Mazik didn’t so much as exhale.

The door opened. Words were exchanged, too quietly for Mazik or the others to hear. Then the door opened wider, revealing a pale young man wearing black trousers and a blood-red tunic, his glasses reflecting the light inside.

Jackpot.

Another short exchange, and then three of the robed figures entered the building, leaving one behind to carry their guest inside. There was some hushed complaining, and then the sack was dutifully picked up and carried inside. The doorman shut the door behind them.

Mazik pulled back behind the dumpster and finally allowed himself to breathe. He leaned back, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. He was stunned.

Mazik let out a long breath. “Okay. I think that’s them. I think we found them.”

Raedren scratched the back of his head. “Wow.”

“Yeah,” agreed Mazik. Then he turned to his friends with a big, toothy grin on his face, like a wolf that can already taste its lamb dinner. “We’ve done it. Way to go, Gavs! I knew you could do it!”

“That makes one of us,” said Gavi. She was trembling. She slumped against the wall, staring at the ground like the wind had been knocked out of her. She shook her head. “I still can’t believe it.”

Mazik patted her leg, giving it a squeeze. She looked up quizzically, and Mazik smiled.

“Don’t worry Gavs, you did awesome,” said Mazik. “You were great.”

Raedren nodded. “Definitely. I couldn’t have done that.”

Gavi relaxed, and then playfully swatted Mazik’s hand away. “Thanks, but you can tell me how amazing I am later on. What’s the plan?”

“That depends. You coming in with us?” said Mazik.

Gavi froze. “I—” she started, and then stopped. She swallowed around a lump in her throat.

“Actually, you can think on it for another minute,” said Mazik, shuffling his feet so he was squatting more comfortably. “I’m gunna call K. I want to get the city guard incoming, just in case we fuck this up.”

“Glad to hear you’re so confident in our victory,” said Raedren.

“Pffft, I just want witnesses so they can’t squelch on the reward money,” said Mazik. “Besides, we need someone to haul these bastards off when we’re done with them, right?”

Raedren smiled. “True.”

Mazik turned away and raised a finger to his lips, praying quickly and sarcastically. Once the prayer was finished he moved a finger to his ear and waited for the connection to establish.

The sound in Mazik’s ear changed texture. “K, you there?”

Sleepy groans were beamed straight into his mind. There was a long yawn, and finally, Kalenia’s voice. “
Is that you, babe?
”

“I hope no one else is calling you this late at night,” said Mazik. “Yes, it’s me.”

Another yawn. “
What’s wrong?
”

“Okay babe, listen. I need you to wake up really quickly, because I need your help. We found them.”

There was silence on the other end. Then,
“You did?”

“Yes, we found them,” said Mazik. “At least, we’re pretty sure it’s them. They’ve got black robes and invisibility and they just kidnapped someone and everything.”

Mazik peered around the dumpster to make sure they were still alone. They were.

“Let’s go with what we planned,” continued Mazik. “Go to the closest guard station.” He gave her the details of their location. “Make sure they bring a lot of people. This place is big.”

“All right.”

“Thanks,” said Mazik. He took a deep breath. “All right, unless there’s anything I’ve forgotten, I need to go. We’re going inside to try to rescue the hostages, if there are any still alive. If we get in there and realize we have the wrong place, I’ll call you immediately. Otherwise, update me whenever coppers are on the way.”

“
I will,
” said Kalenia.
“Be careful.”

“We will,” said Mazik. “And if you don’t see us outside when you get here, please give me a call. I’d like a heads-up before coppers start busting in and trying to arrest me,” he added with a chuckle.

“
I will,
” said Kalenia. Silence, and then, “
I love you. Be safe.
”

“I will, I will,” said Mazik with a wistful smile. “I love you too.”

The connection broke off.

“Okay, let’s do this!” said Mazik, rubbing his hands together. He turned to Gavi. “Gavs, you in?”

For Gavi, it was like the entire world stood still. She was crouched there, one hand rubbing the arrowhead charm hanging from her neck, paralyzed. Her mouth opened wordlessly—

And that’s when she realized that actually, she already knew her answer. She probably knew it all along, she just didn’t have to say it. Until now.

There was really only one option she could live with.

“…what, are you kidding? After all that work? Of course I am!” She crossed her arms. “I can’t let you two have all the fun. Besides, I’d be too worried if I wasn’t there to keep you out of trouble.”

Mazik broke into a huge grin. “That works for me!” he said, and then lunged at Gavi for a hug. She warded him off with a palm to his forehead, though it didn’t stop him from grinning stupidly.

Mazik settled back, still all smiles. “So I guess that means you won the bet, eh?”

Gavi was confused for a second, until she remembered. “Oh yeah, that’s right. I guess I’ll have to think up something suitably painful for you two later on.”

“Oh no,” said Raedren.

“Sounds like fun,” said Mazik, clearly not concerned. “Now before we get started…”

Mazik reached behind him. There was the sound of knots coming undone, and then he shook his hips. A cascade of fabric fell behind him, the dark gray material swaying past his knees like hair finally released from a torturous bun.

“Ah. Of course,” said Raedren.

Gavi sighed. “You just had to wear that thing, didn’t you?”

“But of course!” He rubbed at the creases in his robes. “Though this is a different one. I had it specially made out of lighter material, since there’s no way I could sneak around in the other one.”

“And the point of that was…?” said Gavi.

“It’s like I said, what’s the point in being a caster if you’re not going to advertise?” Mazik grinned. “I want these fuckers to know what’s coming for them as soon as they see me. You two will just be unpleasant surprises.”

“I’m strangely okay with this,” said Raedren.

“You’re no help,” said Gavi to Raedren. She turned back. “Speaking of which, what
is
the plan?”

Mazik stepped out from behind the dumpster and headed toward the door. “I’ll give you one guess.”

“Uh oh,” said Gavi.

“You’re just going to knock, aren’t you,” said Raedren. It wasn’t a question.

“That’s right,” said Mazik. “We’re just going to knock and walk right in.”

*      *      *

Their first entrance attempt escaped the doorman’s notice. The door handle turned with glacial slowness as Mazik tested whether their enemies were stupid enough to leave it unlocked. No such luck.

Ah well.

Knock knock knock
.

The pale man looked up from his book, his brow furrowing. It was to his credit that he was suspicious, because he knew everyone should already be inside by now. He just wasn’t suspicious
enough
, or he wouldn’t have opened the door without plenty of armed backup. He didn’t call for anyone though, because he couldn’t imagine that an enemy would knock.

Whoops.

“Who is it?” asked the pale man as he cracked the door open. “Look, if this is—”

A hand shot through the doorway, whizzing past his head with the excited clumsiness of a teenage boy whose girlfriend has just taken off her shirt. The doorman reeled and tried to cry out, but a second hand joined the first, clamping over his mouth while the other grabbed the back of his head. A shoulder pushed the door open, and the hands’ grinning owner walked in.

“Where are the hostages being held?” asked the intruder, an evil glint in his eyes. “Tell me right now or I’ll
squeeze
.”

Two other figures entered and shut the door behind them. While the woman sized up the area, the second man looked at the doorman with every appearance of concern.

“Ma—” The second man stopped, and then started again. “Uhm, he can’t speak.”

“Oh,” said the first man. “Well, yes. Of course.” He considered this. “Okay. Are the hostages that way?” he asked, pointing to the left. “You may nod if they are.”

The doorman shook his head.

“So they’re to the right?”

The doorman nodded.

“What if he’s lying?” asked the woman as she loosened her scarf.

The first man considered this as well. “Ah, fuck it,” he said, and then headbutted the doorman. He crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

“Smooth,” said Gavi as she cocked her head to the side, listening. Once she was satisfied no one was coming, she sheathed her sword and started checking the other doors.

Mazik stared at his hand. It was shaking.

“That from nerves or excitement?” asked Raedren.

“You know, I’m not sure!” said Mazik with a short laugh. Then he remembered where he was and put a hand over his mouth.

“This one will do,” said Gavi, waving them over to an open door.

A minute later they had the unconscious doorman tied up and stuffed into a closet. “Remember, goal number one is to find the people who were kidnapped.” Mazik stowed the rest of the rope in his satchel. He was glad he had brought plenty. “Let’s try to avoid getting into any fights until they’re safe.”

“Never thought I’d hear you say that, but sounds good,” said Raedren.

Mazik took a moment to examine their surroundings. They were standing in a short hallway. From here they only had two directions to choose from, left or right. To their left the hallway bent slightly, leading to what looked like a tower of crates stacked along the building’s outer wall, while the right took a sharp turn several meters in and led deeper into the building.

Mazik turned to Gavi. “So what do you think, Gavs? Left or right?”

Gavi held a finger up to her lips, cautioning silence. She carefully crept over to the crates on the left side and hid behind them as she peered into the room beyond. After a second she waved them over hurriedly. Mazik and Raedren carefully tiptoed over and joined her.

Mazik had been right—this was a warehouse. The room beyond was filled from floor to ceiling with massive wooden racks, each one filled with crates and boxes like the ones they were crouched behind. But it was beyond the storage racks that their attention was drawn. On the opposite side of the room the floor had been cleared for what Mazik could only assume were nefarious purposes. At least, if someone was organizing a bake sale, they were going about it the wrong way.

Curving, eldritch runes were scratched into the stone of the warehouse floor, their blue ink rippling and twisting like things alive. There were torches too, foul ones arrayed in a circle around the runes, their smoke filling the air with a halo of pollutants. Beyond the circle was a platform, which was almost empty save for a naked stone altar, the handle of a knife just barely visible over its edge. Haphazard symbols had been carved onto the wall beyond the altar with what looked like blackened blood.