Birthright-The Technomage Archive (19 page)

Saryn wanted to say
This sounds impossible
, but she refrained. Instead, she said, “What’s the second issue?”

“
We think that this Instance and many of the others that potentially connect back to Erlon possess a connection to the Untouchable. This was initially the primary directive of the mission, actually. Your team is to discover these connections so that we are able to locate the Untouchable on Erlon and stop his attacks before they escalate further.”

“
That sounds more like Ternia’s—Ceril’s area,” Saryn said, correcting herself. She knew the faculty was aware of her and Ceril’s friendship, but referring to him by his nickname to others was a bit much. “I can
maybe
help with the way back to Erlon, but not with the Untouchable stuff. I don’t even know where to start.”

Harger looked away from Saryn and stared out the window again. “That’s why he’s your team leader,” she said. “Ceril Bain is going to lead your squad into the Instance and direct the fulfillment of your objectives.”

“
I doubt I have a choice on this, do I?” Saryn asked.

Still staring away, Harger said, “There is always a choice, Saryn.”

Saryn bit her bottom lip then said, “Sure. I’m in.”

Harger’s head snapped back to her student. “You are hereby authorized to act in the capacity of a fully Rited agent of the Charonic Archive, Saryn Bloom, with all the rights and responsibilities of that position.” The professor held her hand out to Saryn, and the younger girl watched as a small, black ball materialized in her teacher’s palm. “Take it.”

The gravity of the situation suddenly hit Saryn. “Nanites?”

Harger nodded. “You will all be wearing a sleeve on this mission. You’ve been trained?”

“
Barely,” Saryn said. “Twice, maybe.”

“
I hope it stuck.”

“
Me, too,” Saryn said as she took the pulsing ball from Harger. “Anything else I need to know?”

“
No,” Harger said. “I don’t think so. You leave as soon as the rest of your team is assembled.”

***

“
You’re kidding me, right?”

“
No, Chuckie, I’m not.”

“
You’re starting my Rites today?”

“
Now, actually. In maybe an hour.”

“
Am I leading?”

“
No, you’re under Ceril Bain. It’s his mission.”

“
I don’t like that.”

“
You don’t have to. You just have to follow his orders and make sure that he and the rest of the team make it through okay. I’ve downloaded the mission objectives to your tablet.”

“
Who else is coming? Besides the killer librarian?”

“
Saryn Bloom, Easter Harlo, and Swinton.”

“
Not awful. All right, I’m in.”

“
You don’t have a choice, Chuckie.”

“
I like to pretend I do sometimes.”

“
I’m going to ignore that. Chuckie Tidwell, you are hereby authorized to act in the capacity of a fully Rited agent of the Charonic Archive, for the duration of this mission, your Rites.”

“
Thanks, boss. Where’s my stuff?”

“
Your bags have been packed and will be waiting on you in the Instance chamber. Pick up your weapons from the arms locker, standard set. But grab a sleeve while you’re in there.”

“
This is big, then, huh? If you’re giving us sleeves.”

“
It is important, yes.”

“
Well, shucks, prof. I’m honored.”

“
That’s the spirit, Chuckie. Be ready in half an hour. Meet in the Instance chamber once you’re equipped.”

“
You got it, boss.”

***

“
I can’t today,” Easter Harlo said. “I’ve got too much going on. Can we do it next week?”

“
Harlo, you know better than that,” Doctor Howser said.

“
Yeah, I do. But what’s so important that I have to stop when I’m in the middle of my clinicals? I’m going to have to start them all over, ma’am.”

“
No, this is going to continue them, Harlo. Think of it as a relocation more than anything else.”

“
I don’t know,” Harlo said.

“
They’re your Rites, Harlo. You have to do them, and there’s always the chance that this might be easier than your clinicals. If you can keep the team patched up well enough—and if this team isn’t exactly stupid—you might not have to work half as hard as you would to finish clinicals.”

“
I wouldn’t learn as much, either.”

“
Field work is a different kind of educational experience. You need it just as much as you need to wander the halls, treating the sick and making rounds.”

Harlo sighed and reattached the tablet she had been reading to the end of the patient’s bed. “I guess I can. What am I doing?”

“
I’m sure you heard about the incident this morning?”

“
Vaguely,” Harlo admitted. “I was in here, but I couldn’t step out.”

“
Of course,” Howser said. “The
Sigil
has lost its connection to Erlon. Your team is being sent to find a way to either restore that connection—an outcome Roman does not see as being likely—or to find a way back to Erlon so that we’re not floating in dead space anymore.”

“
That’s it?”

“
The Instance you’re going to is unmapped. We’re not sure what’s there. Roman hinted the Untouchable’s influence might be there somehow. He was pretty vague about that, actually.”

“
Well, that sounds fantastic.” Her voice was monotone.

“
Doesn’t it?” Howser replied. “You and your team are going to investigate what you can and see if you can find anything that would lead us to the Untouchable on Erlon. I think Ceril Bain is going to be responsible for that.”

“
I don’t know him. Heard of him, though. Wasn’t he the one who killed that boy a few years ago?”

“
Yes, but he’s your leader on this one, Harlo. You follow his orders, okay?”

Harlo held her hands out, palms up. “What else would I do?”

“
I know you, Harlo, and when you get something in your head, you can’t let it go.”

“
Some people say, doc, that’s a good thing.”

“
And others call it unhealthy and obsessive.”

“
Hey!”

“
That mindset will likely get you through this safely, though. Just make sure you take care of your people, okay? Everything else is secondary. I know you haven’t been in the field much, but this is big, Harlo. I need you to bring everybody back, okay? Everything else aside, all other mission directives aside, you bring these people back.”

Harlo sobered up at her mentor’s words. “I got it, doc. I do.”

“
Easter Harlo, you have permission to act as a fully Rited agent of the Charonic Archive for the duration of this mission. Do you have any questions?”

“
Do I get to keep my sleeve, then?”

Howser nodded. “Yes, and the rest of your team will have one, too. You’ve had the most experience with one, though, so if they need any help making theirs work, it will fall on you to explain it, okay? They might have had a few hours working nanites before, but not nearly as much time as you have.”

“
Got it. I can do that.”

“
I know you can, Harlo. Now, a bag has been packed for you already, and it’s waiting for you in the Instance chamber. Your team should be about ready to go. Finish up what you’re working on, and meet them there in half an hour.”

“
Can do. You want me to finish my rounds this morning, doc?”

“
No, I’ll cover them, Harlo. Stop worrying so much.”

“
Yeah, sure,” Harlo said. “Quit worrying with my Rites starting in half an hour. That’s going to happen.”

Doctor Howser smiled. “Get out of here, Harlo.”

***

“
Not with Chuckie. No,” Swinton said. “I won’t. I can’t. He hates me.”

“
He doesn’t hate you, Swinton,” said Professor Barts.

“
I bet he does. He’s out to get me. Every time we’re on the range or sparring, I have to go to the infirmary for something. Most of the time, it’s his fault.”

“
You’ve never been able to prove that, Swinton.”

“
Either way, I’m not going.”

“
Yes, Swinton, you are. You’re a soldier, and you’re going. That’s your job.”

Swinton turned his back on the professor and peered into the closet. He pulled out the red shirt he always wore under his fatigues when he went through the Instance. It had been his brother James’s, and Swinton always considered it lucky. He tossed the shirt on the bed beside his fatigues.

“
What’s so important about this one, professor? Why us?”

“
Each member of this team was chosen for a reason, Swinton. Not the least of which was that you’re all ready for your Rites.”

“
My Rites? To be a full agent?”

Barts said, “Yes.”

“
Would I get a Flameblade then?” Swinton asked.

“
You really are single-minded, aren’t you, Swinton?”

“
I changed from scholar to soldier just for the chance at a Flameblade, so yeah. I guess I am. Is there a chance?”

“
The mission consists of you and your team finding a route from this Instance back to Erlon. We believe that Saryn Bloom is more than adequately equipped for the task. Ceril Bain is the leader—”

“
What? Leader? I thought you said Chuckie was going?”

“
Chuckie is going,” Professor Barts said, “but he’s not in charge. Ceril Bain is.”

“
So I have to take orders from the killer librarian now, too?”

“
Yes, you do. Do you have a problem with that?” The professor’s voice was hard. He wasn’t joking around, and Swinton knew it.

“
No, sir. I don’t.”

“
Good. Now, Ceril Bain is the leader of the team, and his primary directive is to locate any connection this Instance may have to the Untouchable. Any connection he finds will be intelligence we can use to locate the terrorists on Erlon, and Saryn Bloom may be able to use it to complete her objectives. Your job is simple: protect them all and make sure you stay alive to do it.”

“
But what does that have to do with the Flameblades?”

“
Swinton, there might be one there. We don’t know. It’s an unmapped Instance that may be light-years from where we thought we want to be. We just don’t know. If there is a connection with the Untouchable, then there’s a good chance a Flameblade is around. His followers on Erlon seem to have a ready supply of them.”

“
That’s all I needed to hear, sir. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

Professor Barts sighed and shook his head. If Swinton noticed the disappointment, he made no indication. Barts said, “Swinton Marelotov, on this mission and this mission alone, you will be authorized to act in the capacity of a fully Rited agent of the Charonic Archive. You will find a bag packed for you that contains supplies in the Instance chamber, and I ask that you stop by the weapons locker and arm yourself with a standard set. You should add to that a nanite sleeve.”

“
Oh, wow,” Swinton said. “I’ve hit the big time.”

“
This is serious, Swinton.”

“
I’m being dead serious. I get a nanite sleeve and there might be a Flameblade somewhere in this Instance? I feel like things are finally coming together for me.”

“
Just remember the mission directives, son. I’ve downloaded them into your tablet, and the other members of your team have been informed of them as well. Do you have any questions?”

“
No, sir. I think I’m good.”

“
Be at the Instance portal in half an hour for final checks. Then you’re off.”

Swinton saluted. “Yes, sir.”

The professor left the room, and Swinton smiled to himself, his mind overtaken by the possibility of finding a Flameblade of his own. He got dressed, beginning with his brother’s red shirt. Before he left his quarters, he balled his fists together and pantomimed a brief sword fight.

Chapter Thirteen

Ceril stood with his team in front of the Instance portal. He had seen it every day for six years, but he had never really understood how it worked. Never in all his time had he dreamt that the Charons had somehow actually created other universes and controlled their expansion. The sheer power—not to mention hubris—that took almost overwhelmed him.

What kind of person invented technology like that?

The portal at Ennd's Academy had been a simple doorway. Well, simple only in that it looked like a door. Ceril had seen Nephil and other professors entering some kind of combinations when he was younger, but he assumed they were just pass codes that allowed access to certain areas of the school. He had since learned the codes were more akin to addresses for the Instance to which they were connecting. But not all portals looked like the carved doors found at Ennd's. The one aboard the
Inkwell Sigil
, for instance, was much more minimalist and did not try to hide what it was in the slightest: two long pieces of metal stood parallel about eight feet apart, and the Instance portal stood as a dark shimmer between them. Until that morning, that dark shimmer had always connected the
Sigil
to Ennd's. Now, there was just empty air.

Now, the whole thing looked fake.

Roman interrupted Ceril’s admiration of the Instance device by saying, “Your team is just arriving now, Ceril. I think we're about ready for send-off.” The muscled scholar clapped his sausage-fingered hand on Ceril's shoulder. It was probably supposed to be comforting, or maybe congratulatory, but it just made Ceril’s stomach sink.
My team
, he thought.
I’m going to screw this up so bad
.