Strikeforce (23 page)

45

Cassius kicked at the dirt, watching it fly away in a cloud. The Fringe heat didn't bother him. He hardly noticed it, especially beyond the frenzy of challenging emotions battling within him.

The Academy had ferried them down in shuttles—every last soul onboard that was willing and able to fight. Some had stayed on the ship itself, ready to use any extra firepower available to them, but there was little doubt that this would be primarily a ground war. It had been so up to this point. No reason for that to change now.

Now that they were on the Surface, the Academy's battalions formed a massive circle, several football fields in diameter each way. It functioned as a protective ring around Cassius and Fisher, thick with layers of Agents and troops. Fringers had come calling, too, from neighboring towns. The shadow of the Skyship, tempered with the fear of invasion, attracted them like a magnet. They were easily convinced to join the battle, once they knew what was at stake.

But humans alone weren't going to win this war. If Fisher did his job right, their small army would soon be joined by Drifters—the more, the better.

Cassius looked over his shoulder. Fisher sat cross-legged, a hundred yards away. His back was turned to Cassius, his head bowed. It was hard to concentrate in the center of the circle, sitting in the Fringes waiting for an attack, but it had to be done. Concentration was key. Only then did Fisher have any chance of connecting with the Drifters around the country.

Cassius had his own challenges. He turned back, scanning the horizon beyond the outer rim of soldiers. He'd heard that Kansas was the flattest state in the country. It sure looked like it. The landscape, brown and unremarkable, seemed to stretch on as far as he could see. In some ways, this was good. While it offered limited to no protection, it also guaranteed that the enemy wouldn't be able to sneak up on them.

Captain Alkine's people had been warned about the Ridium underfoot—the way the Shifters could pull it up in blades or weapons. Never stay in one place for too long. That was the best advice he could offer. Beyond that, he needed to do what he could to preemptively clear the battlefield of the substance.

Concentration, again.

But before he could think about making it hard for the Authority, he needed his own protection.

Closing his eyes, he focused on the ground. He couldn't see the Ridium yet, but he could sense it, churning under the dirt like oil waiting to be dredged up. He brought his fists down to his sides, then spread his fingers apart, lifting them in the air like they had string tied to the ends and he was controlling a puppet. It was an altogether different strain on his body than conjuring fire had been. There was no heat—only the force of the ground working against him.

When he opened his eyes, he watched several snakes of black begin to work their way out from the ground. They coiled around his ankles, melting into an ooze. The liquid climbed up his legs, covering every piece of him, then moved toward his chest. Once it had slipped down the entire length of his arms, he allowed it to trickle over his face.

For a split second, he couldn't see at all. But that was over with quickly, as the world came into focus once more. Though he didn't have time to spare, he couldn't help but marvel at the sights around him. It was like before. Everything seemed more detailed—fuller. He looked up at the sky and could see longer and better than he'd ever thought possible.

Beyond that, he could feel.

It was as if he stood in the middle of an enormous pool, waves approaching from every angle. They were far away now, but getting closer every moment. He could pinpoint every last Shifter … feel their strain as they pulled massive amounts of Ridium from the ground and forced them onward. He wondered if this was how it felt to Fisher, being able to sense the Drifters.

He remembered what one particular Drifter had once told him.
Ridium seeks Ridium
. It was as simple as that. That's how he was able to sense Fisher being attacked by the stuff back at the Academy, and that's how he could sense the beginning of the Flood now. He was plugged in, more than ever before. And he needed to use t
hat.

But as much as he could make out from this distance, one particular force stood out more strongly than any other. He couldn't get a picture in his head, but it was larger and meaner than the rest.

Matigo, of course.

Having sparred with him directly, Cassius could locate Matigo with ease. As they'd all suspected, he was on his way. Moving fast.

And when he arrived, every piece of Ridium would be a weapon to him.

Cassius couldn't stop Matigo from coming. He couldn't keep him from gathering Ridium, but he could make it difficult for him.

Crouching low, he grabbed hold of as many deposits as he could manage. With a great heave, he plucked them from the ground. Several dozen balls launched into the air, like they'd been propelled by underground cannons.

He watched them soar in wide arcs away from the crowd, only to land several miles away. Satisfied with the effect, he pulled the same maneuver again. Several dozen more spheres of blackness shot away at dizzying speeds.

He repeated.

Repeated.

Within minutes, he'd dredged up the entire area. The only Ridium left was the collection that made up his suit, and there was no way he was letting that go. He'd made the mistake last time. Matigo had been too strong.

This time, he'd be ready.

46

I ignore the crowd around me—totally tune out every sound and movement beyond Pearls. Alkine could be barking commands my way and I wouldn't even know.

But that's not likely. Before sitting down and closing my eyes, I took one last 360-degree view of the circle of troops. I'm not sure this many Shippers have been off of Skyship Academy since it was first launched. They stand waiting—a protective force for Cassius and me.

It's some comfort, and it's definitely nice not to be alone out here. But I'm responsible for bringing the real firepower.

I've had little luck with Drifters so far. Break a Pearl and they come flying out, zipping away from me faster than I can explain myself. And even when I slow one down enough to talk to them, no single Drifter has been able to give me a full story.

Still, with experience comes knowledge. The longer I've had to use my powers, the stronger my connection to Pearl energy has become.

I start to feel them now. Even if I can't connect to every single one, I can sense their location. There are thousands of green Pearls around the world, ready to be broken. They'll
need
to be, but not quite yet. First, I'm after Drifters. Particularly those tha
t can still fly.

I broadcast myself to them now. I've never really tried it before, but if I can control Pearl energy after it's broken, there's no reason I can't nudge a few Drifters our way as well.

Truly, I have no idea if it's working or not. I don't risk opening my eyes to check if any have landed, for fear of breaking my concentration. Instead, I push my thoughts forward. It's like calling a friend to your side, except I can't use my voice. It's deeper than telepathy. This is more gut than mind.

I give it five minutes, max. After that, it's time to go after Pearls. I managed to hurt Matigo back at the Academy, even if it was only temporary. To deal a blow capable of killing him, I'm going to need more energy than I've ever handled before. After what happened back in the reactor chamber in Portland, I don't know how I'm going to be able to control it all without passing out. I'm no use to anyone unconscious or dead, so I have to be careful.

I begin pulling from all around us, homing in on Pearls that have fallen and ones yet to land. The moment I sense one, I latch on and nudge it in my direction. I notice my shoulders jolting up and down. My face twitches with each Pearl I grab. The more I find, the easier it gets to control them.

I open my eyes and watch them stream at me, looping in the air like someone's outside tossing them into our circle. Instead of catching them, I let them land beside me, providing another protective barrier around my body. They lie in dormant piles until I need them. I hear the whispers, but even that doesn't fracture my concentration.

As this is happening, I notice the emergence of the Drifters for the first time. They descend upon us like angels, joining ranks with the Academy soldiers and Fringers. They heard my call.

Within minutes, the halo around Cassius and me pulses with its own share of Pearl energy. For every ten humans, there's a Drifter. Their green glow adds a buzzing, radiant presence to our battalion.

I pause for a short moment to admire it. For the first time, I allow unrestrained confidence to course through me. We have an army. It's what all of the Drifters had told me to do, time and time again. I gathered an army. We can win this.

As I continue to pull more Pearls near me, I notice the surrounding Drifters move. One on the right side of the circle holds his hand aloft, pointing straight to the stars. Another joins, mimicking the movement. Then a third. A fourth. Soon, every single Drifter is pointing at the sky.

I watch as energy pours from their fingertips, widening in a large net as it leaves their bodies. One Drifter's glow intersects with another's, melding together into a flat plane of green that stretches into the heavens. It takes me a moment to realize what's happening.

They're making a shield.

Like the Bio-Nets that used to surround Chosen Cities, the Pearl energy grows until it forms a dome overhead, encompassing all of us inside. The sky's dulled to a soft green. I feel it emanate in every direction, even as I continue to pull Pearls from outside.

The Drifters drop their hands. The shield remains in place. I'm not sure how long it's going to last, but the very presence of it gives me hope. Can Matigo break through this?

I'll soon find out.

The sky darkens. It's so obvious, I can see it even beyond the gre
en.

My stomach lurches. For a moment, I can't even breathe.

An army approaches from all angles. They seem to have come from nowhere—simply materialized in the air. I hadn't sensed their arrival. There's no warning. No cannons or battle cry or even firepower. Not yet.

I spin to take them in. Hundreds, all at once, making barely a sound as they approach our shield. The darkness is the only thing I can see. They swoop in like locusts—a black plague ready to demolish everything around them.

Some are on foot, others fly. They descend quickly. I stand and look past the glowing dome. This is it.

The Authority.

47

Cassius's throat tightened. He peered above him, admiring the solid green shield overhead. But it wasn't long before his eyes focused on what was outside. At first, they looked like a swarm of insects, or a flock of birds circling for prey. But as they neared, he could make out their humanoid shapes—black body armor encasing them from head to toe.

Much of the blackness wasn't Ridium. That he could tell, even from a distance. Most of the Authority's Shifters were otherwise occupied, creating the flood that barreled through the country. These were foot soldiers—some wearing jet packs, others on the ground. Even if they couldn't Shift, it didn't mean they were any less dangerous, particularly to the Shippers in the outer circle. Not everyone possessed the powers that Cassius enjoyed.

He watched the army beat against the shield of energy, letti
ng loose a volley of firepower. Bursts of red collided with the field, sending crackles across its surface, like sheet lightning. Several detonations went off, weakening the shield. Cassius wasn't sure which was stronger—red or green Pearl energy—
but he wasn't about to rely on what they had at their dispo
sal.

He felt the Ridium quiver along his body, and imagined all the things he could do with it. Fire had hurt Matigo last time. That was Cassius's secret weapon, but there had to be a better way to channel it.

The Authority soldiers continued to fight against the energy dome, rupturing more and more cracks the longer they were at it. In a few minutes, they'd be through—if
that
long. Cassius hoped that the exertion would weaken them some, use up their firepower before the battle really began.

Alkine's troops held still, ready to deliver an opening volley as soon as the Authority moved in.

It wasn't long.

The dome shattered, seemingly all at once. Authority bullets and fragments of Pearl energy streamed in a maelstrom around him. The circle of soldiers erupted with firepower. Drifters flew into the air. Others landed. None approached Cassius.

He looked over his shoulder. Fisher, too, had been spared.

That could mean only one thing.

Before he could think about it, a figure swooped down, landing so hard that his feet created a pair of small craters in the earth.

Matigo stood between Cassius and Fisher, arms out to his sides, ready to attack. Cassius watched Fisher turn to face him. He focused on his brother's terrified eyes for just a moment—could've sworn they glowed a faint green—before turning all his attention to Matigo.

Fisher attacked first, breaking a Pearl and funneling the energy in a sideways tornado right at Matigo's chest. Matigo jumped sideways and avoided most of it, but at least it kept him on the defensive.

Cassius raised a fist, but Matigo struck too quickly, sculpting a pair of Ridium scythes from his shoulders. The blades twirled in a blurred whirlwind, forcing both boys back. Fisher summoned another Pearl, just as Matigo leapt from the ground toward Cassius.

Cassius tried to dodge, but Matigo collided with him, grabbing his shoulders and pushing him into the ground.

His breath escaped him, leaving behind a reverberating thud in his chest. It took all the strength he could muster to summon a shield of Ridium overhead, moments before Matigo tried to squash him with a weapon of his own.

They clobbered each other for several rounds, neither getting past each other's suit, until a blast of Pearl energy sent Matigo into the air. He twisted awkwardly, pummeled by the stuff, before flying to the ground.

Fisher sprinted to help Cassius up. “We have to work together.”

Cassius ran the back of his hand over his lips, leaving a dark smear of blood on his skin. “He's too—”

Before he could finish, Matigo whipped around and sent a battering ram of streaming Ridium right at Fisher's chest.

Cassius watched his brother be carried away, forced through the air until he toppled onto the ground at the far side of the circle.

The Ridium yo-yoed back. Matigo jumped forward, charging at Cassius.

Fire. He had to explode with all that he could manage. He clenched his fist, felt his chest tighten. This couldn't be small.

A pair of black tentacles surged from Matigo's midsection, so fast that Cassius barely saw them. Before he knew it, they'd wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer.

Same thing as before, Cassius told himself. He could fight against it. He could pry himself free.

But he didn't expect what happened next.

With a powerful surge, Matigo left the ground, rocketing straight into the air. He took Cassius with him, holding on so tightly that the wind couldn't even pull him away.

They barreled past the remnants of the energy shield and soared into the stratosphere. All the while, Cassius fought to free himself. He manipulated his Ridium in a blind panic, barely controlling it. As they flew closer and closer to the stars, it took all the concentration he could muster to simply keep the dark shell affixed to his body. Without it, he knew that the rapidly depleting oxygen would make it impossible to breathe. That, or the air pressure would crush him. The Ridium was the only thing keeping him alive.

He couldn't conjure fire at such heights. Choices of attack were severely limited. He had no way of fighting back. Matigo could steer him in any direction he wanted.

The sky began to darken. Soon, it would be black. The only thing that made the impossible journey less horrifying was the fact that Cassius had made it before, when he'd first been submerged in the Ridium.

But this was different. Last time, he'd been in control. He'd enjoyed the power of flight, if only for a few moments. The substance could grant this ability, but he wasn't sure how. He'd formed the bubble to get to the Academy, but that had been when he was back on the ground. Panic clouded all of his instincts.

Matigo's face was covered. He existed as a dark, humanoid blob in front of Cassius—a weight dragging him up to the stars, breaking gravity.

The last of the blue sky faded. Cassius sensed an other-worldly iciness around him, though he couldn't feel it directly through the insulation of his suit. Stars pulled into sight. Planets, far in the distance.

Matigo's coils eased their grip around Cassius's body. He felt himself tip backward. The darkness of Matigo's silhouette disappeared, replaced by an infinite amount of celestial landmarks.

T
hough he couldn't see every movement, he knew that Matigo had drifted apart from him now. He would fall back to Earth to finish the job he had started with Fisher. He'd separated the two of them. He'd made working together impossible.

Cassius's arms spread. His legs fell, supported by nothing. He began to float—lifeless, unable to move.

In orbit.