21 (II) Intercept

21 (II)

Intercept

“How did you tear up your clothes so quickly? Why did I even get them for you?” Uva looked at Shiv with exasperation as he offered her only a casual smile. “And what’s this about you jumping off a nearby building? What’s wrong with taking a demon like the rest of us?”

“Was just trying to see the sights of your stunning city…” Shiv said, looking Uva up and down. She was wearing a heavier set of armor. Also nightglass in composition, to his surprise. He didn’t like that as much as the leather armor she was wearing for certain reasons, but he had to admit that he liked the general aesthetic. “...before saying hi to its more stunning citizens.”

Uva closed her eyes as she tried not to let her embarrassment show. Behind her, the other Umbrals looked on in disbelief. Some of their jaws dropped at Shiv’s audacity—and the young Umbral from earlier openly started laughing at Uva. The Weaveresses that accompanied them were decidedly more stoic.

There were three of them, and they each wore cloaks of invisibility, leaving only their mandibled heads exposed for now. Valor explained to him that this was Trapdoor, serving as the Composer's personal bodyguard and counter-intelligence. The way they presented themselves was formidable as well. Their movements were so quick and smooth that it made Shiv shiver. It was just like trying to track the movements of an actual spider back when he was but a boy.

I think one of them might be able to stab me over a hundred times before I even react, Shiv thought. He wondered if he could survive that. Thinking back to his brawl with the raven made him believe so, but nightglass could still cut him. It wouldn’t take much for them to go for his eyes or neck.

They were assembled right along the main staff entrance for Passage. Apparently, staff worked on the higher levels, and where Shiv left through the other day was an exit specifically meant for essential personnel. When he asked why they hadn’t started procedures to lock the place down, Uva simply shook her head and elaborated.

“Weave is a personal dimension. But though the Composer expands the realm, and we work toward self-sufficiency every day, there are still many materials we need from the outside world to function—trade we do with the other Faiths and sisters that need to come to and fro after their missions. Choking Passage might choke the city—activating and deactivating the teleportation anchors cannot be done in an instant. More importantly, though, new orders came down from the Composer: She wants the people behind this plot captured preferably, and slain to a man if there is no other choice.”

So, they were going to do things the hard way.

Shiv’s brooch crackled again, and Adam’s voice came through. “Alright. She’s landed—I’m watching her make her way inside. Shiv? How are things on your end?”

“We’re ready for her,” Shiv said. He nodded at the Weaveresses and all three pulled their cloaks over their faces. They vanished in an instant. The unease inside him grew. Invisible… giant spiderfolk… that have Paths of their own… I can only imagine the amount of spider-related nightmares that would sweep through the Republic if they knew about Weave.

“Alright. I’m touching down.” There was a spike of interference on Adam’s end before the words picked back up.

“You’re cleared for the building,” Uva said, speaking to Adam through Shiv’s brooch. “Just keep trailing behind her. A few Weaveresses will be with you shortly. They will detain her and take things from there.”

“Yeah, just make sure you have my armor and bow,” Adam complained. “I came all this way flying through wearing the clown outfit you gave me. Meanwhile, your wingless boyfriend’s jumping around the city, looking like some kind of pulp hero on a book cover. It’s insulting—”

But Uva wasn’t listening to Adam anymore. As Shiv met her eyes, she let out a worried breath. “Again. I really, really hope you're wrong.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t planning on getting involved with a conspiracy to bomb Passage. I didn’t even manage to get my books yet—and my trip to the Cradle got delayed again.” Shiv sighed. “But fate calls. One can only answer.”

“Fate seems to call you a lot,” Uva said, her eyes narrow.

“Would you rather it call someone else?” he replied.

She rolled her eyes. “No. But I would rather it gave you a bit more time to breathe in between. You’ve done quite a bit for the city.”

“That’s very jealous of you, Sister Uva. Want me all for yourself?”

The young Umbral of the group started giggling louder. The others averted their eyes out of respect for Uva—but he knew she was going to catch hell from them after this was over. He just couldn’t help it.

“Dinner and dessert best be exceptional,” Uva said, her threat veiled but clear.

Too bad for her, Shiv loved a challenge. “I promise to make your eyes roll.”

Valor whistled. The young Umbral mimed fanning herself. Uva spun and turned to glare at her. She froze.

“Sister,” Uva said. “Is your hand having a cramp?”

“No, but my heart might be.” She grinned. Uva didn’t. The young Umbral stopped grinning.

“Sisters. Honored Shiv. Great Valor Thann,” a mechanical voice intoned.

Shiv turned to see a tall, thin automaton approaching them. It bore a staff with a focus crystal and wore a long, silk cloak of midnight black. Their face seemed to be made of some manner of translucent plastic rather than metal, and Shiv could see a complex array of circuits inside them—along with the glow of their power core. “The target has been secured. Your presences have been requested, however. They wish to see if Honored Shiv might be able to experience another Foreshadowing episode to help us trace the true assailants during interrogation.”

Shiv looked at Uva and noted her surprise. “I… yes, of course, Cherished Metven,” she said. “As you say.” Uva looked to Shiv, and he received a thought from her. “I didn’t expect them to be so fast.”

Me neither, Shiv thought back. The Weaveresses left a few seconds ago. Them finding her and containing her that fast in this large of a building is… terrifying.

Sister Uva’s face became a look of vicarious pride. “May we all become as efficient as they someday.”

Oh, I’m definitely going to. You think they’ll teach a surfacer their ways?

She considered his question. “If you asked me a day ago, I would have said never. If you asked me after your audience with the Composer, still probably not. If what you said is true, and you just averted a major terrorist attack on Passage… we’ll see.”

And that was practically a yes to Shiv. Life sure was good when you were a big, damn hero.

They followed Metven through a series of secret passageways. Apparently, the Arachnae Order had their own spatial tunnels to move quickly inside Passage. Shiv was impressed. The scale of this operation made Blackedge look like a backward hovel—and increasingly, Shiv thought that was accurate. But this led into another question: Why was Blackedge so diminished when a great hero such as Roland Arrow was leading it? The man was known even by the Abyssal Nations. Surely, that meant he was worthy of being a full City Lord, and not just the ruler of a town.

“Cherished Metven, is it?” Valor asked.

“Correct, Great Valor Thann.”

“None of that. I’ll keep using your title if you stop invoking mine. I just wanted to mention that I am impressed. There aren’t many automata that manage to become Cherished under the Composer—nor become full Dynamancers.”

The automaton stopped mid-step in astonishment. “You can tell?”

Shiv was impressed too. “How?” Shiv could see the automaton, and even he couldn’t tell what kind of mage he was dealing with.

“The Skill Fusion of Pyromancy, Cryomancy, Geomancy, Hydromancy, and Aeromancy is a rare feat for any mage—but automata need to especially exhibit focus and control with Aeromancy due to the dangers of ungrounded electricity. And I can hear the bottom of your staff crackling in a way that is unique to true Dynamancy.”

Shiv, Uva, the other Umbrals, and the automaton shared a unified look of awe.

“I’m beginning to wonder which of us is actually sealed in a dagger and blind to the world,” Shiv muttered.

“Ah, it’s nothing, boy. You just need to learn to listen and observe. Seeing is one thing, but interpreting details with all your senses and using logical reasoning to process the information is the mark of a learned man.”

“You know, Valor? I agree with them. You’re pretty great.”

And at that, the man in the dagger laughed proudly.

“You achieved Dynamancy?” Uva said, blinking at Metven. “Remarkable… You were struggling for so long. I remember your frustration and efforts. It is well deserved, Cherished Metven. But… why didn’t you tell us?”

The automaton let out a very human laugh. “Because I am still processing it, too. I wanted to declare my triumph only when I was truly ready and possessed true control over my new abilities.”

Uva nodded. “My congratulations. Again. You do the Composer proud.”

“Thank you, Sister Uva,” Metven said, gesturing for them to pass through a final set of doors. Shiv arched an eyebrow as he noted the doors to be of dense metal and lined with spellwork. Doors leading into a teleportation anchor. He wondered if the order conducted their interrogations in some place hidden. Maybe out in the Abyssal Wilderness. Or in another hidden spot. He wasn’t sure how much he liked this cloak and dagger business, but he supposed that when your enemy operated in the shadows, it helped to walk the same darkness as well.

As the Umbrals filtered into the room. Shiv turned to examine the automaton’s staff. He still couldn't hear anything. “Nice job.”

Metven chuckled. “Thank you, Honored Guest. Effort, lubricant, and oil gets you a long way.”

“Imagine how far you could get if death wasn’t an obstacle,” Shiv joked.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“Ah. Such is the dream.” The automaton placed a hand on Shiv’s shoulder. In that moment—

Foreshadowing: Replacing the Arachnae automaton was the result of more luck than planning. The raven just so happened to be of the same core model as Metven, and be practically aligned based on general skills.

Needing to ensure Metven remain stationed at Passage, it made the kill just before the Cherished could achieve a Master-Tier skill of its own, and took on the components of its victim. For months after, it lived as the one it replaced, learning the secrets and mechanics of Passage.

Fortunately, the assassin’s Foreshadowing made upholding its facade and stealing intelligence far easier.

And then, finally, came orders—orders sent by Aviary—of an essential mission, one that required the absolute collapse of the city’s spatial defenses…

Foreshadowing > 10

“So… where are we going?” the young Umbral called out. “Where did they put her?”

When Shiv came back to himself, his group was inside the teleportation chamber, while he stood just in the doorway. Uva looked back to Shiv, confused why he had stopped.

The Deathless was staring up at “Metven,” suddenly transfixed. And the raven was looking back at him, internal machinery screaming.

It has Foreshadowing too, Shiv realized. His own glimpse into who they were revealed it. That likely meant—

“Shit,”

Uva frowned at them. “What is—”

Shiv lashed out, striking at the automaton’s face using Valor. He might as well have been standing still. A blast of incredible force hit him—launched him back-first into the chamber, knocking over Uva in the process. As he bounced off the far wall, Shiv felt several bones inside him break and one of his lungs burst.

Still, he landed on his feet and growled as he immediately began charging the automaton. He didn’t care if he was bleeding internally. He didn’t care if he died. A fight was on, and his blood was high.

Too bad for him, the mechanical raven didn’t feel the same way.

“Close it!” the automaton shouted into their brooch. The chamber’s doors slammed shut in an instant and sealed with several clicks. A protective spell took shape a moment later. The Umbrals—still stunned by what just happened—failed to respond in time. Shiv’s stomach dropped. He slammed into the door, insides jolting with agony. He punched it several times, then tried to lever it open with Valor.

But he knew it was pointless. He didn’t have the Physicality. He didn’t have the Reflexes. And with the way the spell patterns around them were forming, the intensifying glow and the rising temperature, Shiv knew what was coming next.

All teleportation anchors had failsafes and purification measures. Among the simplest was fire. Because with enough heat, viruses and even most unnatural diseases died. It worked pretty well against vampires and invaders too. Now, Shiv and the Umbrals were going to enjoy a firsthand experience of said purification unless they found a way to break out of the chamber.

“What—” Uva sputtered. “Operator!” she called into her brooch. “Operator! We are—we are in a chamber! Do not trigger the purification mechanism! Do not! Operator!”

Shiv only heard interference coming from her brooch.

“And communications have been compromised again,” Valor mused, unnaturally calm. “Shiv. I believe I can guess what situation we find ourselves in. And I suspect that Nomos’s death might also be New Albion’s doing. In fact, it would fit their needs if I was taken back by the Court of the First Blood… Yes, some of this is truly starting to come together. How impressively devious…”

“Yeah, well, I’m less inclined to praise the bastards who are about to burn me!”

Uva reached out and took him by the elbow. “Shiv? What just happened? Why did—”

“That’s not Metven. Metven’s dead. That’s a New Albion assassin that replaced them. It’s one of those ravens—the same kind that attacked Blackedge. And they're about to turn us all to cinders if we don’t find a way out.”

Somehow, Uva’s face managed to get paler. She looked around and swallowed as her other sisters called into their brooches or unleashed spells against the anchor. “We can’t… Nothing short of a Master can force their way through these protections…”

Shiv stared at her, and a building tide of dread rose inside him. He wasn’t worried about himself—death was his nutrition. But Uva… the others… Watching them be incinerated might hurt his mind more than an attack from a Psychomancer.

And Valor knew this too. “Steel yourself, boy,” the dagger said. “You are about to take a wound that may never heal. I have many. I know the moment when this comes. For the rest of you… The fire will be hot. But the pain will not last long. It will be quick.”

“No,” Shiv snarled. He couldn’t accept that. He looked at Uva as she closed her eyes, straining her mind. A set of translucent spell patterns flared bright, but then she recoiled, clutching her head. Shiv caught her before she could fall.

“I can’t get through!” she coughed. Blood was leaking from her nose and eyes.

Shiv wiped the red from her face. “Are you alright?” he asked.

She shook her head, grimacing. “Soon, we won’t be anything at all.” She looked at her sisters. The youngest among them was frantically striking her daggers at the door. “It’s… a real shame. I won’t be able to have that dinner after all. Or make you another set of clothes you'll immediately ruin.”

Shiv looked down at his torn up clothes. “You made these?”

She shrugged.

“They’re great. And Adam’s?”

“Thrift store.”

He couldn’t help it. He laughed. Her smile grew bitter, but remained. She wrapped her arms around him and drew closer. “I suppose there are worse ways to go. The Composer will avenge us. Trust in that, Shiv.”

But she was shaking, and he knew she was scared. So were the others.

But Shiv wasn’t scared. He was furious. And he wasn’t going to let life take anything from him. Not if he could help it. He would die before… before…

Shiv blinked. He had an idea. A very painful, fatal idea. “Are any of your Cryomancers?”

Uva blinked. “I have a Cryomancy Skill.”

“You do? Damn, you’re good at everything.”

“It’s not even at the Adept threshold yet,” she muttered.

“Hopefully that’s enough.” Shiv looked to the others and waved for them to come in closer. “Alright. Get close. I don’t know if I can do this well enough, and it might be a little gross, but it’s our best shot.” The Umbrals stared at him uncertainly. The room was getting hotter fast. They didn’t have time. “Now!”

They rushed over and Uva just stared at him. “Shiv—”

“This isn’t a last ditch attempt at polyamory, but you’re probably going to hate it just as much,” Shiv said, turning his Biomancy inward. “Truthfully, I hate it too. But maybe it can work. Maybe…”

“What are you planning, boy?” Valor said. “Tell me your idea. I might be able to help.”

“I can’t heal myself very well. But I can make tumors.” Shiv thought back to the masses growing all over him, even as the fire weaver tried to burn him. Pair that with his Diamond Shell… “Cancer expands. Cancer has mass. And I might just have enough durability to make a proper layer of insulation with a Cyromancer fighting the heat.”

The other Umbrals gathered close, going back to back behind Uva. She looked at Shiv, trying to process his plan. But he already started. He bit back a cry of pain before he tore open his arms and sides, stretching out his skin and sinews, fusing them together as an ugly, messy layer of netting around the others.

The young Umbral gagged. The others looked on, horrified—chief among them, Uva. “Shiv! Stop! What are you doing!”

“This hurts about as felling much as I expected,” he spat out between clenched teeth.

Biomancy > 20

“Thanks System,” Shiv whimpered. “Great consolation prize.”

Armored hands seized him by the chin. Uva was staring at him, blood still running from her eyes. “Stop—this, you’ll die!”

“Probably,” Shiv chuckled. He started forcing his body to regenerate, and the cancers began to spread. The tumors had the Diamond Shell gleam, too, which made Shiv more confident about his plan. Slowly, he began to encase the Umbrals in his flesh—which was really messed up, but the best he could do in a bad situation. Please, System, let this work… I won’t let them die… You can’t make me…

As Uva continued begging him to stop, Shiv found himself battling to stay conscious. Well, we’re at that point of pain. I sure as hell hope I can stop myself from screaming when the fire comes. My dying howls might just traumatize Uva and others worse than I already have.

“Peace, Sister Uva, peace,” Valor said, trying to calm her. “His mind is set. Soon, you will be needed as well.”

Shiv blinked dark spots out of his eyes. There was little light inside the shelter he made from his flesh. A layer of tumors clutched the Umbrals tight and pressed Shiv’s head in deeper as it expanded out from the back of his neck. Uva’s face was sheer misery.

“You… look how I feel,” Shiv laughed.

She chuckled too, her throat thick with something else. “You… I won’t forget this… I won’t… I’m sorry…”

“Listen,” Shiv said. Outside, there came a sound of something sparking. Then the flames came, and pain beyond Shiv’s ability to describe followed. Whatever he was going to say died as he almost blacked out. Only the cold touch of Uva’s forehead pressing against his pulled him back from the darkness. “L-listen.”

She was shaking. Her eyes were closed. She placed her hand on his cheek. The other Umbrals stared at him with misted eyes as well. The youngest was outright sobbing. “I’m here,” Uva said. “I’m listening.”

He tried to keep speaking but—holy felling gods why do these tumors feel like nerve endings! There also came pressing waves of force, grinding at him, breaking things inside him. Shiv responded by generating more tumors to make up for the weakness of his muscles. If he made himself a dense mass of flesh, that would work where his Physicality failed.

To Shiv’s pride, he didn’t scream in Uva’s face. That would have been very impolite. And humiliating. Instead, he waited for all his nerves to die before he continued. Through it all, he kept forcing his body to regenerate—never stopping—even as the flames melted layers of flesh and tissue away.

At least he got something out of it.

Diamond Shell > 59

“I-in a few moments, they’re… they’re going to come in. I hope.” Shiv swallowed. He dropped Valor. “One of you… hide Valor. T-the assassin has Foreshadowing too. And I think New Albion will try to steal the dagger if they get the chance.”

“They would,” Valor confirmed.

“Okay,” Uva said. There were clear streaks on her bloodied face. “We won’t let him be taken.”

“Good… but… next part’s important.” Shiv shuddered. He could feel his blood practically boiling inside of him. Diamond Shell was truly a double-edged sword. It was the only reason why they weren’t immediately evaporated, but it also really prolonged his suffering. “When the raven comes back in—I’ll open up my body. You need to be prepared for an ambush. The raven’s strong… At least one skill at Master Tier…”

Shiv lost all feeling in his legs. It felt like the flames were in his gut. But a wave of cold washed over him. Blinking, he saw an ice spell dancing between Uva’s hands and spreading around the inside of their tumorous chamber. The Umbrals were sweating, but they looked fine otherwise. Good. They weren’t dead. He tried to finish the rest of his thoughts, wanted to tell them that someone needed to run to find Adam—and that even more of the order might be compromised, but the only thing he could manage was a pained wheeze.

He blinked twice, and he felt darkness creeping into his vision. The last thing he felt before this death took him were cold arms embracing him one final time. Or so Uva thought.

Shiv returned as a Revenant inside his own fried corpse-shelter and watched Uva weep silently as she held him. She wasn’t the only one. The other Umbrals looked distraught and horrified at Shiv’s fate. Personally, he was kind of pissed. Lacking intangibility, Shiv swam out from his body using his Biomancy, passing through without compromising the structure. By this point, the flames were dimming, and the other sterilization spells were taking effect. He briefly felt a force pull at what felt like his soul, but it faded quickly.

And a few seconds later, the sound he wanted to hear came. The unlocking of the doors. The fading of its spell. And the return of the damned automaton raven he was about to turn to scrap.

Shiv eyed the outer cocoon of what used to be his body and learned he could gag as a spirit. Never mind Uva and the others, he was traumatized from that.

And it was all New Albion’s fault.

Physicality > 50 (Skill Evolution Imminent)

Diamond Shell > 67

Biomancy > 25

Skill Gained: Pyromancy 1 (Initiate)