29

The final barrier swung smoothly aside despite its age and ancient design. I'd been able to see the tower above the maze walls as I made my approach. The diagram the Reaper mask had provided promised that nothing was between this point and the tower in the center of the entire complex.

Entering with a sense of reverence, I swept my gaze over the scene to give X-37 a chance to record and process information. Sunrise hadn't arrived, but it was coming. There were hints of light reflecting everywhere—that sort of predawn haze that tricked the eyes until it was time for the sun to dominate the horizon.

The rock formed a bowl around the sleek hybrid tower at the center of the maze. The building was a perfect blend of ancient and innovative technology. I spotted rust-free alloys and solar panels that could gather energy. These were arranged between elaborate stone carvings that showed monsters with tentacles feeding on smaller, six legged animals that traveled the maze in a herd. There were mosaic tiles on one section and something like prefabricated plastic on another.

Birds hid themselves in scrub brush where they sang sadly sweet melodies. A breeze touched my skin. No one would suspect the place had been built for violence until they examined portholes I assumed were there so defenders could aim weapons. Other signs of it being made for defense were less obvious, like the way the area around it had been cleared of rocks, plant life, or other debris. Nothing could approach the place without being seen.

Standing in the center of the natural amphitheater, I saw how the place had been designed to keep intruders out for thousands of years. Without our advanced technology, the maze itself would've been enough to keep us from finding our way. The gates had been constructed to repel invaders with only a small force of defenders. I thought monsters must have been imported to the various sections of the maze and left to repopulate the area or wander away as nature called them. There didn’t seem to be a natural reason for the planet to produce so many predators in one place. Carvings on the walls and the exterior of the tech shrine suggested I was probably lucky to have come the way I did. Some of the creatures in the carvings and faded paintings appeared diabolically strange and dangerous.

What I realized then was that there must have been two civilizations on this planet. One had been technologically advanced, and the other less so.

Inside this tower, I would find answers of a different sort.

The journey to this place had been long and dark. The sun was rising and the sight of it stole away my breath. I had explored enough worlds to know that spring in the desert was beautiful. But it was still a desert and I was still alone.

"See anything that I’m missing, X?" I asked.

"No, Reaper Cain," X-37 said. "The instructions were to find the sanctuary and enter.”

"What if she's in there?" I asked.

X-37 took longer than normal to answer. "I don't think she will be there. It's more likely she left you a message or another clue."

I grunted. Another clue was the last thing I wanted.

The tower was glorious, an elegant design that could grace the prow of a starship as easily as the center of a palace. In flight, it would look one way, but pointed toward the sky as it was, I saw it differently and wondered if it had been a launch rocket before being permanently affixed to the maze floor. Everything about the area suggested this was an ancient place. Soft blue light glowed from the frame of the doorway.

"What do you think, X?" I asked, pretending more confidence than I felt. There was no detectable danger on any of my sensors, but my gut told me this place wasn’t safe. I wasn’t about to let my guard down, but neither did I want to go slow.

"This is the center of the tech shrine. You will find answers here or you won't," X-37 said. "I don't believe we have a lot of time before the commando teams finish with Elise and Tom and head our way. My concern is we will find more information than we can analyze on scene."

Activating the Reaper mask, I checked on Elise and Path. They were making good time, leading the Union commandos farther and farther away. My heart raced when I realized she was favoring a wound in her side.

Path cut down two of his adversaries, then rushed toward Elise. A bullet struck him, driving him to his knees. Both camera angles displayed confused images as their wearers fought to survive. Elsie sprayed her HDK on full auto, forcing back their attackers. They leaned on each other and staggered up a set of natural stairs.

“I have to do something, X,” I said.

“Check your tactical display. It isn’t as bad as it looks on the camera view,” X-37 said.

“Not as bad?” I shouted, cursing myself for not getting control of the girl and the sword saint.

“Calm yourself, Reaper Cain,” X-37 said sternly.

I was about to abandon my mission to go and help them, when I heard her.

“We’re almost to safety, Cain. If you can hear me, meet us at the Jellybird!”

X-37 knew which camera view I was fixated on. "There's nothing we can do for her right now, Reaper Cain. Trust her decision. Stop treating her like a child.”

“She is a child!”

“With a machine gun and a lot of ammunition. We can’t help her from here. There is nothing for us to do but continue,” X said.

“Let's get this done with," I snapped, then entered the tower.

A single computer terminal waited for me in the center of a large room. Climbing to the dais, I knew I was at my destination.

I stared at it as the sounds of combat continued in my earpiece. X-37 lowered the volume, but it still tortured me.

Screams and explosions filled my awareness. “What the hell are you doing, Elise?”

“It’s not me, it’s Path. He can’t get free of them. Or maybe they’re trying to get free of him. Hard to say!” Elise yelled, then fired a stream of bullets toward a vague target that appeared to be a Union commando.

“Listen to me if you can, Elise,” I said. “I am in the central tower. I’ve made it. Don’t take any further risks because you’re trying to pull them away from me. Just get to the ship.”

A long pause followed. I started to pace, wanting to go forward and learn the secrets I had long desired answered but also desperately needing to see Elise and even Path to safety.

“Okay, Cain,” Elise said. “We’re trying to break contact and get out of here. See you at the ship.”

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