Overdrive (46 page)

Instead of driving
straight through Asel’s field and skewing him, the Sefiroth’s sword penetrated
the field but only glanced off Asel’s side, drawing blood but not quite
resulting in the killing strike desired. Asel retaliated with a smooth back
handed blow, neatly beheading his slightly off balance attacker. The head
landed near Logan’s feet who kicked it away disgustedly.

As they watched,
Asel drove his sword through the remaining, one armed Sefiroth who was in the
process of picking up his sword. To the others disgust, he then used his sword
to cut off their wings, holding up his grisly trophies triumphantly.

“Scratch three of
the Unholy Sefiroth of the Cabala," said Asel, an evil grin on his face.
“Only seven to go. Including that weasel Sammael."

“Forget him,"
said Logan. “We need to get Felix and get the hell out of here. Where would
they be keeping him?”

Asel plucked some
of the feathers out of the severed wings he held. Dropping the wings he started
wiping his sword with the feathers.

“Well?” demanded
Logan impatiently.

Asel examined his
sword critically. Satisfied, he looked up at Logan and the others. “The most
likely place is Gabriella’s personal quarters although he could be in the
palace’s high security detention centre.”

Logan nodded. “Ok.
Ram Terry, Tarq and myself will check out Gabriella’s personal quarters. You,
Walter and Bruce take the detention centre. I’ll need the layout schematic.”

Asel stiffened.
“Who are you to give me orders?”

Logan patted his
Afer. “Someone who can fry your arse."

Asel took a
threatening step forward. “Why you little…”

“Come now
gentlemen," said Ram Terry, trotting between the two. “We need to work together to stand any chance of regaining Felix. I think this incident demonstrates that we
are capable of overcoming any adversary if we work as a team." He looked
around at the dead bodies of the Sefiroth littering the floor.

Asel glared at
Logan for a moment more before sheathing his sword and nodding.

“Very well.”
Logan’s AI informed him that he’d just received a data package containing the
palace’s layout. He examined it quickly.

“Good. We’ll grab
Felix and meet back here.”

“Right," said
Tarquin. “But whatever we do, we better do it fast. I think some more of the
bastards are heading this way.”

From the corridor
at the far end of the cavern they could hear the unmistakable sound of running
feet.

“All right!” said
Walter, hefting his weapons and looking happy.

“Later,” said
Logan. “Everybody into the lift. Move it!”

It was a tight
squeeze, but after two unsuccessful attempts, they finally managed to maneuver
everyone including Asel’s bulky wings inside the small lift. As the doors
slowly closed, the last view of the rocky cavern was of three heavily armed Angelic
squads racing towards them.

Bruce, standing in
the front of the lift with Asel, gave the approaching figures the finger before
the doors sealed shut.

“Was that entirely
necessary?," asked Ram Terry.

Bruce grinned.
“Yes. Entirely.”

◊

The pain had
subsided somewhat enabling Crystal to stand and look about her. Nothing had
really changed; the grey of Nospace lay all about her, its soft texture broken
only by the hard surface of the Shiva she rode upon.

During the journey
(although she wasn’t sure if they had actually traveled anywhere – movement in
Nospace being almost imperceptible) she had probed the mind of the creature
further, discovering that it was almost completely mindless, driven by instinct
and primitive desires. Hunger was its predominant motivating force.

Its appearance and
that of its fellows was, she knew, an instinctive reaction to her distress.
Crystal had managed to insert a belief into the creatures mind that when they
found Gabriella, they would find nourishment. She wasn’t sure how much longer
she could manipulate it though; already she could sense a vague sense of anger
and impatience. If the creatures turned on her now she would stand no chance.

She certainly had
a few questions to ask Ram Terry if and when she got back into real space. How
did she manage to transfer herself into Nospace without a slipdrive? It was
meant to be impossible. Controlling a Shiva was no big deal – any 1st or 2nd
hierarchy angel could do it, but transferring directly into Nospace? No, this
was something new. She wasn’t even sure how she’d managed to survive in the
hostile vacuum during the initial transference – she’d been unconscious and her
fields had not been activated. Ram Terry, she was sure, had not told her
everything about her heritage and although she had a strong desire to find out,
a part of her was terrified that she might not like what she heard.

Below her, the
giant creature shuddered. Although she was unsure of how much time had actually
elapsed, she could sense a subtle change around her. The Shiva had reached the
co-ordinate where this part of Nospace touched the real space about Makon. She
felt the palpable need radiating from the creature. It had fulfilled its part
of the bargain, now it wanted feeding. Below her, she could sense rather than
see the two accompanying Shiva moving their giant tentacles restlessly.

She tried to
soothe them, caressing their minds with hers, placating and reassuring. They
would be fed but there was something she needed to do first. Her need became
their need. Unbidden, visions and knowledge arose in her mind. The Shiva had
responded again to her desires and given her exactly the help she needed.

I didn’t know I
could do that
, she
thought. With a deep breath, she tried. Transition complete, she looked about
her and was filled with amazement.

Well, I’ll be
.

◊

“Is she awake?”
asked Felix anxiously.

Gabriella
repressed a shudder. The stasis tank containing the mindless body of Crystal
had been drained and most of the umbilical's removed. The body still had the
waxen look of the dead though, its extremities slightly wrinkled from the
fluids that minutes ago had been used to preserve it.

Gabriella tried to
hide the revulsion she felt. Even though this body had meant to be for her, she
couldn’t help feeling disgust knowing the process needed to transfer her mind into
this. Though she knew many considered Crystal to be an attractive woman,
compared to her own body and features, she paled by way of comparison. Not that
Felix seemed to mind. He stroked the soaked and slimy hair in a lovers caress.

“Not quite. The
revival process normally takes a few hours. She’ll awaken just as you
remembered her.”

Which gives me
enough time for my technicians to check the validity of the Overdrive data
you’ve just given me
, she
thought to herself. After which of course, she could do away with Felix
altogether.

Felix nodded
absently, continuing to stroke the slimy hair.

Behind her,
Sammael cleared his throat.

“What is it?” she
snapped, deliberately not turning to face him. She could hear him nervously
shifting his feet. Obviously bad news.

 “Guards in the
lower catacombs report a disturbance. It looks like someone managed to get in
through an old entrance we thought was completely sealed. One of the intruders
is Angelic in stature and there’s a sheep with them.”

Next to Sammael,
Tynan slowly edged away, surreptitiously putting as much space between them as
possible. If Sammael was to face Gabriella’s wrath then Tynan didn’t want any
part of it.

Gabriella watched
Felix carefully, checking to see if any of this information registered with him.
He seemed to be completely oblivious of anything but Crystal. She turned around
slowly and eyed Sammael thoughtfully. “Ah, I wondered what had happened to Ram
Terry. Come to save the galaxy have they? Well too late. What can they possibly
hope to achieve now?”

“Ahh, to get Felix
and the Overdrive back?” ventured Tynan hopefully.

Gabriella scowled
at him. “It was a rhetorical question you idiot."

Tynan nodded. “Of
course," he said, silently cursing himself for drawing her attention.

“There’s more,”
said Sammael. “Word from orbit is that Metatron and Michael have just arrived.
Seems that the old man is a bit concerned about some of your activities. We
expect him to be down on the planet within the hour.”

Gabriella smiled
to herself. “Timely as always.” She shrugged. “Not that it’ll matter. As soon
as the data checks out, I’ll challenge the old boy and slice him up. He won’t
stand a chance. Quite convenient really; it saves me the trip to Arabot.
Anything else?”

 “I’ve lost
contact with three of my Sefiorth.”

“Are you actually
going to give me any good news today?” Gabriella frowned.

“That would imply
that they’re armed with Afers or that the Angel with them is greater in stature
than we presumed.”

Sammael nodded.
“That would be my conjecture."

“Conjecture away,"
said Gabriella, “but bring me the intruder’s heads on a plate. Seal off the
lower levels and post heavy guards around this section and near my personal
quarters. Bring the Sefiroth in to take personal control of the situation. You
better put some extra guards around the detention centre as well. Hopefully
they’ll go for that first. And Sammael?”

“Yes your
Highness?”

“I don’t want any
survivors. We can’t have anyone reporting back to Metatron about what’s being
going on here now can we?”

“No your Highness.
That would not be desirable."

“Good. Break open
the Afers as well. I think you’re going to need them.”

◊

“Where are we?”
whispered Walter.

“Maintenance level
2G," replied Asel. “And stop whispering. Remember your role. You’re meant
to be a loyal Knights Templar of an upper hierarchy Angel. You don’t go
sneaking around, whispering in dark corners.”

Walter nodded.
“Right," he whispered back, unconvinced. He glanced at Bruce. The gorilla
wasn’t exactly fulfilling his part either, his handcuffs dangling from one
wrist.

They came to an AG
lift obviously used by maintenance personal. Asel gestured them inside.

“Ok. This takes us
directly outside the detention centre. Do what I tell you and follow my lead.
Remember to play your part," he said, glaring at Bruce. The gorilla rolled
his eyes but did as he was told, clipping the cuffs together so that they
appeared closed.

The doors opened
revealing a large chamber with grey metal walls. Two large armored doors almost
filled the far wall they faced. In front of the doors stood at least 10 heavily
armed angels accompanied by what looked to be a small army of Templars.

“Oh dear,” said
Walter under his breath.

“Quiet you fool,”
hissed Asel. He marched purposefully out of the lift, indicating to Walter that
he should follow with the prisoner. He stopped before an Angel with an insignia
of rank.

“Prisoner for the
detention centre,” he said.

“My lord? queried
the Angel in charge. “I have not been notified of any prisoners being admitted
today.”

Asel sighed with
mock frustration. “I have just come from Princess Gabriella herself and she has
ordered that this prisoner," he said indicating Bruce, “is to be detained
today. Now.”

The angel nodded.
“I understand that my lord but I have also received my orders from the Princess
herself. She has informed me that no-one is to get in here today. Anyone who
does is to be detained for questioning.” He put his hand on his sword hilt.
“Please give me your weapons.”

“No,” said Asel.

The angel raised
his eyebrows in surprise. “In that case, we’ll have to take them from you.”

Asel drew his
sword. Around him, the other angels and Knights Templars readied themselves for
hostilities.

“Come and get it
then,” he said, holding the sword out. The angel reached out to hesitantly take
it. Just as he put his hand on the blade, Asel struck, severing the hand in a
gout of blood.

“Run,” cried
Walter.

“I hear you,” said
Bruce, shaking off his cuffs and leaping towards the lift. Behind them, the
sounds of combat echoed loudly about the chamber. Walter didn’t fancy Asel’s
chances.

◊

Logan, Tarquin and
Ram Terry made their way cautiously along the corridor. Reaching the end, Logan
peered around. So far they hadn’t run into any guards although they’d had to
hide a couple of times at the sound of running feet. Logan and Tarquin could
probably pass themselves off as Templars but Ram Terry certainly couldn’t;
genetically altered sheep not being on the pay roll of the Areopagites. They’d
got lucky so far. According to the schematic in Logan’s AI, Gabriella’s
personal chambers were just around the next bend.