Partial or whole chapters in [Alpha Draft] 

Cloak and Dagger Pt 2

Ross was the first to regain consciousness. His wrists were bound behind his back. He tried to wriggle around to gage his range of mobility, and found it was very negligible at best. This exercise of futility didn’t come with ignorance. It was quite the opposite. He found that the shackles linking his wrists kept him reasonably restrained to a set of very tough metal rings set into the stone floor. He was also stuck in a kneeling position with his chained shackles holding him in place in a bent backwards position, and for good measure, his ankles were restrained in place by something similar to the rungs.

A look around the room told Ross what he already suspected, but the why was still a mystery. More importantly, where was Dan? He scanned the room more thoroughly this time, taking in every detail with his eyes. He appeared to be in a stone bricked room that was furnished with two desks, two chairs and a 4 ft tall rune and line covered stand that looked like it once was able to hold a much bigger version of his phone at the top. It looked very similar to the Holo stand entertainment decks that most families living on the habitats had in their dwellings. Only, he had no idea what this did. Maybe it projected an interactive hologram environment, or it did something simple. He just couldn’t know for sure without seeing it in action, and that would never happen, because the top was shattered.

Something his eyes did not pick up on, was Danny. His friend was no ware in the room. Ross sighed in relief. He had no idea if he was able to escape or not. A large part of him hoped he had, even though a small part of Ross wished he was here with him so he didn’t have to go through this alone, but he is a soldier trained in the ways of war before the UCF. He would just have to embrace the suck, whatever that might be. For now, he would do what he could, and that was try to escape.
***
Dan woke up in a beast cage. He could tell he was being transported His leg was stiff. He tried to move it, only to find pain blossom throughout it. He wasn’t tied down in any way, but he did have a collar around his neck. It was magical in nature. Dan could feal as much, because like all magic it spoke to his instincts, and what they told him, was that the collar’s purpose was to drain him and keep him drained of his mana.

He knew he had been in a similar situation before when he met Grisre. He had been collared and caged in what he discovered was a facility for illegal monster and beast trade. Danny still remembered how he escaped before, but there was no guarantee that it would be the same or as complicated. In fact, it could be worlds more complicated. He just wouldn’t know until he examined it. 

The cage itself was a re assuring sight. It was crude and lacked the visual signs of being magical. While Dan would not be able to break out of it under his own strength, he would definitely be able to do it with access to his class and other abilities. Not wanting to waste any more time then was necessary, Dan dove into his magical streams of mana.

Unlike the last time his mana flows were fuller and flowed with a stronger current. Something else that he noticed, was how thick his mana was. Unlike before when it was watery and soupy, it was now like a thick molasses and hard to move his aethereal self-projection in. He couldn’t fight the current, and instead let the flow of mana take him. After all, mana collars drained mana to the point that it nearly places its wearer in a state of mana fatigue and then adjusts to drain mana as it’s produced, dispersing the absorbed mana to a connected magical device or dumping it out into the world as a wasted resource.
 
Danny’s mana flow swept through many twists and turns. He also noted that the seemingly endless river was exceedingly more complex and time consuming than he last remembered. However, it was in his best interest to see it through to the end, because, if he was wrong about the cage than he may never get another chance to reexamine the collar. He was alive now, but that could change. Life was cheap in this world, a fact that remained no matter what world he was in.

Danny had been exploring the complex rivers of mana for what seemed like an eternity when he finally reached what he hoped was the collar. If the collar had any common sense to it, then it had to be. At no point up until now had his mana network consisted of anything other than straightaways, branching streams and diverging mana networks into separate all be it connected circuits. What Danny was nearing was a whirlpool of mana that sucked him down into an alien feeling mana network. “This must be the collar.” Dan thought to himself.

Dan almost payed the circuitry of the collar no mind. What caught his attention to it were the differences with this one verses the other collar. This collar had a more complex set of magic circuits that comprised its artificial mana network. It was why his mana flow was so turbulent, yet it showed no signs of stress. There was no overwhelming this collar or using the trick he had used when Rayna had captured him. His only hope of finding a weakness now was to reach the end of his magic draining restraint.

He wasn’t going to give up. Sure, he was losing hope that he could slip free of the collar. Its’ design prevented overloading and was efficient enough to preventing him from slowly building up enough mana to use his abilities. That didn’t mean there wasn’t a way out. He just had to find it.

He finally reached the end of the collar. It was indeed high end. Whoever invested in this spent some coin, but there was one disappointing factor in its’ design, a flaw that Danny found disappointing and filled him with relief all at the same time. The collar was connected to something but it wasn’t the cage. A closure examination showed that it was connected to a nearly filled mana battery. Dan smiled as only a cat could. The problem had solved itself. All he needed to do was give it that extra push. He was getting out of there. Fuck you, asshole.
***
Karber’s boredom threatened to overtake him. He was on the schedule as captain for the detail efforts in the tunnels that lay below the gate houses and the rest of the city. Nothing exciting ever happens in those tunnels, and the stuff that did happen couldn’t provide him any meaningful distraction. At least, that was what he thought.

He decided he’d had enough, and abused the power his station provided to alleviate some of his boredom by performing a guard check around and below the administrator’s building. It afforded Karber a temporary relief in his tedious and life sucking punishment. If he was to re quote with accuracy, “You need to learn how to follow orders, Karber.” Why beings wanted this job was beyond him, but he made his bed when he decided a particular noble had crossed a particular line by challenging him to a duel over something as retarded as eating a particularly annoying pet that even the noble didn’t want.

It wasn’t actually the duel that pissed him off, but the way he did it. In fairness, King Arista warned the High Dragon about the noble’s insufferable nature, and he could even tolerate that, but when he wiped his gauntlet in Lizzorse shit and slapped him across the face with it, well, he wasn’t a live long enough to raise further objections. This put the King in an odd position, because the noble was supposed to replace one that was executed for siding with high lord Beckett, and that set a bad image for his majesty, and earned him this punishment. They couldn’t kill him, and they couldn’t stop him, because he wouldn’t let them for reasons only King Arista would ever be aware of. So, what else could they do?

Karber finished his guard checks outside the building, confirming all soldiers were at their posts and in top form. He even went so far as to do an optional security check around the building just as an excuse to get some fresh air and see a bit of the city. It was then that he saw something suspicious. Well, not exactly suspicious, but very out of place.

Walking into the inn was a human who was carrying a cage that had a familiar looking Azure cat inside of it. He didn’t really have much time to consider where he had seen the cat, because the man carrying the cat exploded in a bright multicolored explosion, followed by a loud kaboom that echoed throughout the city. The force of the explosion sent the cage smashing into Karber and knocking the high dragon off his feet, and taking out the front end of the inn.

Karber pushed himself up into a sitting position. As he did so, the Azure cat that was in the cage was shakily trying to get itself back to its feet, but falling back over to dazed to stand. It was then that Karber recognized the cat. It was Danny, Ross’ friend, the same friend that made their victory over Gulhigha and Julius possible, and the same Danny that was expected to arrive today.

He bought Dan inside the Administrative building and throwing policy to the wind, teleported to the top floor where the administrator was located. Karber did not have time to waste of security procedure. He’s a high dragon, dammit. What were they going to do about it? Then he gulped. A lot of unpleasant things, but this was important. More than the immediate issue literally in his hand, were the implications.

The administrator, Ashreen Nomen was in her office when she felt her ears pop. It was an air pressure differential created by the protective anti teleportation wards being brutally overpowered. This wasn’t the first time that dammed dragon had done this, but Ashreen grabbed a wand of blasting and a ring of protection anyway. After all, she had been wrong before.

She flipped her desk and took cover behind it, while aiming her wand at the door. The door didn’t get blasted off its hinges. It wasn’t ripped away from its’ frame. It was flung open with more force than was necessary with a very upset Karber look alike walking in. Ashreen didn’t take the time to identify the intruder. He could have been anybody. She blasted the thing, whoever it was. Except, nothing happened. She gave her wand three more waves before slapping it in her hand and waving it at her target again.

The Karber looks alike took his free hand, and with a wave caused her wand of blasting to fly out of her hand and into the intruder’s grasp. The intruder gave every active challenge reply. “Oh! Gods dammit, Karber.” Ashreen exhaled in relief, and flipping her desk back over. she pulled out a hand full of magic scrolls. “These enchantments are not cheap you know. You had better have a good explanation as to what is going on or your being extended for another five months.” she said, growing angrier with every word.

Karber ignored her and conjured a purple-lavish pillow on the desk and sat the dazed cat on and the wand next to it. “This is one of the capitols honored guests. I am here to report a possible breach at the arrival gate.” Ashreen’s attention was fully on Karber. “What about Lord Reynolds, and why haven’t the alarms gone off?” Ashreen asked. “I do not know, but I am going to the gate. As a noble night of the kingdom, I recommend reporting this to the castle and sending a detail to the underground and another detail to that inn across the street from this building.” The administrator nodded. “I agree. How will we keep in contact.” Karber placed a healing potion next to Danny after popping his leg back into place and conjured a set of comm crystals, and tossed one to the administrator. Without a word Karber left.
***
Every attempt Ross made to escape only led to more failure. To make matters worse, he had no idea what was going on beyond his current situation, let alone their ultimate goal. All he knew, was that he was captured, and that Dan was nowhere in sight. There had been no demands, no questions or interrogations. It was like they were holding him for something or someone.

Seconds turned to minutes, and minuets turned to hours. Ross heard his captors beyond the door. They had held quiet conversation throughout the time he had been bound in their not-so-great care, and as time ticked on, they were becoming nervous. He listened in to the two idiots as they displayed the greatest example of OPSEC (operations security) he had ever witnessed. “What is tacking Lord Bines so long anyway? My feet are killing me.” Idiot one said. “I do too, but look on the bright side. We have the human, Lord Reynolds, and the cat is being delivered to Lord Bines as we speak. We will surely be rewarded.” idiot two replied. “What do you think he wants with them anyway? I mean, the human I can guess, but why the cat?” idiot one asked. “I overheard the captain speaking, but he said he is going to have them transported back to his lands and tortured, and then use them as leverage to join the Red Party Alliance.” stated idiot two.

Their conversation went on for a bit, but what Ross heard sent his mind spinning. Dan had been caught. He must have gotten hurt. It was the only explanation. What was worse, was the fact he had no access to his class, and if Dan’s situation was anything like his, then neither could he. There was also the fact that some Lord Bines asshole wanted to torture them and use them as political leverage. All Ross could think about, was how fucked he was, and how much his friend was suffering at that very moment.

He didn’t have much time to commiserate his misery. There was a sudden surge of activity as hurried footsteps could be heard outside Ross’s makeshift holding cell. Hurried footfalls turned into running and a barking of orders. “Stay hear and guard the prisoner.” said an unfamiliar voice, followed by the clang of a salute by the two guarding his door. His captors were very organized. It only took a short time for them to organize themselves. As to what they were going to do, Ross didn’t know. They were out of his range, and he wouldn’t know until the situation revealed itself. He missed the days when he was fighting aboard a ship. At least then he had access to all the tools needed to fill in the blanks. He let out a worried sigh.
***
Karber was approaching the gate at a distance He could have taken the underground, But the administrator had sent a detail of capable soldiers into the tunnels from the administrator building. The thinking was, that sending their most capable to the gate in question, it would give the team in the tunnel time to sort out any possible issues down there and cut off any escape while Karber delt with any possible situation at the gate and hopefully drive them into a pincer.

As he approached, he noticed that everything looked normal at a distance, but since he was the embodiment of magic, he could heal it was anything but. Magic was being thrown all over the place. It wasn’t attack magic. It was defensive magic meant to reenforce and give them an advantage in battle. That caused Karber to raise an eyebrow in surprise. Not that the gate had been seized. No, surprised that they thought they stood a chance.

His approach to gate was largely unimpeded. The only obstacle in his path was one of two soldiers at the gate house. It was only than that it became clear to Karber how and what they were hoping to achieve. It told him that something had in fact happened to Ross, that Ross was in fact still hear. The hidden and enhanced would be ambushers were not a problem for the high dragon. After all, he had fought much worse than these fools, and the human they were holding still had an important role to play, whatever that was.

A beast kin male strode out to meat Karber. “Noble Knight.” He greeted. “What brings you out to the gate?” Beast kin didn’t sweat. Instead, the dragon caught a whiff of the imposters fear. It was a smell that was universal to all sapient beings of this reality with one exception and that was the planet they were standing on and maybe himself on a good day. It was very rare that this iteration felt fear. “I am here for a gate inspection.” Karber lied. The fear smell exuded by the Beast kin went from a strong odor to a light one.

Cardoe Wolfman was not cut out for cloak and dagger, but the house he served was on the verge of collapse. He also swore an oath to his lord. That was why he had feared the worse when the infamous dragon by the name of Karber strolled up to the gate. He was also a noble night of his once majesty, King Arista.

He was assuredly relieved when the dragon announced it was for an inspection, and to his knowledge, that was something the dragon did participate in, but he was supposed to be on punishment. Was he defying orders? Maybe. It was easier to just play along. He mouthed, “Hide the prisoner in the tunnel.” Cardoe initiated the procedure by having him and his partner line up. Karber inspected their armor and weapons. He then took the dragon around the gate itself so the noble knight could inspect the gates magic circuitry for tampering. Cardoe let out an inner sigh of relief. He had no idea if it was tampered with, let alone where they stashed the body of the original soldier they had killed much earlier.

Thankfully his team had done away with the body. Karber finding nothing wrong, wanted to view the slate. “Sure, but we had an accident and the slate broke. We sent it to the administrators building for replacement. Hear is the paperwork.” He handed the dragon the forged document, thankful that a concentrated effort had gone into this. Hopefully he would go back and check with the office and they could flee with the prisoner.

Karber didn’t buy the act or the evidence. After all, he wasn’t here for a real inspection, and besides, a slate could not be destroyed by accident. They were to important for that and he had conjured them personally. It was time to bring this to an end and get Ross. I’m gonna head back, but I will make my report from the gate house. I brought a slate with me.” He held out a newly conjured slate.

That was when hell broke loose. Six soldiers were suddenly visible with weapons drawn. “Give up Karber. You cannot hope to kill us.” a human said. Karber grinned a most predatory grin. He was considered very attractive by human standards when he was in humanoid form, but his teeth had taken the shape of a dragon’s teeth, and it made him more monstrous and intimidating. “You think those toys can save you from me?” He growled as he began to shed his human form and turned into a large version of his dragon form. “Anti-magic is still magic. I am magic.”

The two soldiers guarding Ross rushed into the room. Right as the ground shook and screams were extinguished. They began to fiddle with his restraints. They were scared. Terror filled their eyes. Their lips were dry, and their skin was devoid of color. One of them fumbled with a key until the other, a beast kin with ghostly white fur grabbed it and took charge of Ross’s restraints. They led him to a hidden tunnel in the back of the room, when it slid open and a sword stabbed up and through the beast kin’s crotch and out and through his torso with considerable strength. As the sword was ripped out and away from Ross’s captor body, it caused blood to poor out in a spray and his guts to poor out onto the floor.

Soldiers poured out of the tunnel and engaged the human who was still quaking in fear. The human didn’t stand a chance. He was decapitated with a quick and fluid swing of a sword. “Lord Reynolds. Are you hurt?” said a human wearing a tabard that held the king’s crest. Another of his rescuers removed his restraints. Ross performed a mental a physical review of himself. “Yeah. I’m fine, but what about Da… Lord Anderson?” Ross asked rubbing his wrist. “He is fine.” Ross nodded his thanks, but he was suddenly angry, and could feel every transgression pounding at Ross like a thousand hammers. His Iron will was slowly being over whelmed.

The kings soldiers began to back away as Ross bellowed for them to back off to saftey. He was losing control, and their transgressions were many, and it only added to the overwhelming flood. The problem wasn’t his ability to control it in normal settings. He was constantly surrounded by it and eased into it. With his class and mana restricting restraints gone, It hit him all at ones like an unstoppable tsunami covering a large continent, consuming all it encountered

They must have understood, because they climbed back down into the tunnel. His muscles bulged and his hair became spiky with a golden sheen. His sapphire eyes shown as Ross road on wings of vengeance, the last vestiges of his control slipping away. That wasn’t the end of the changes. His armor and the sword he picked up in his righteous furry, took on their angelic transformation.

Karber felt Ross’s power surge. His enemy must have felt it too, because they all risked glancing at the guard house. It radiated righteous furry. It was as if the world was laying bare their injustices before an avenging angel, and it was the arbiter that would deliver that retribution.
In what appeared to be a streak of light, the once group of six, were now thirteen, and they were dropping in heaps of ash.

Ross had no sense of self. His righteous anger burned through him and gave him raw-unadulterated strength. He felt his sword vibrate from clash after clash. He didn’t know how many times or why. All he knew, was the transgression before him. His sword swung by the hands of a warrior, and his enemies fell like the ashes in the wind. He was moving fast. He thrust out with a blade wreathed in shadowy smoke that was in turn enveloped by a bright and intensely hot light.

Karber watched as they split up their efforts in futilely. Half split off to focus on the raging Ross while the other half stayed to keep Karber distracted. They had switched gears. They had failed to achieve their goal, whatever that was, and now they were focused on kill and escape.

Karber quickly put an end to his group. As a dragon shaped cataclysm, he had no issues crushing every building that housed the puny beings. They were utility buildings for temporary storage anyway. His task complete, he lay in front of the gate and watched Ross murder the rest.  

He was quite impressed at how adept Ross’ sword play was. It hadn’t improved much since they last defeated the outer plainer beings known as Julius and Gulhigha, but it had improved non the less. One of his remaining four enemies stabbed outward with their weapon in a sword art, but Ross countered with one of his own and slashed our, cutting his foe in half, and ejected a slash of light that sliced another unfortunate opponent in half. The slash of light impacted Karber, but did little more than crack one of his hard scales.

The other two began to beg for mercy as Ross slowly stalked toward them, but fortunately for them Ross had run out of juice, and his transformation ended. Karber, not wanting them to seize any unsavory opportunities, took on his humanoid form and teleported between them and forced their faces into the dirt as Ross fell unconscious from fatigue.