Plague of Mybyncia (29 page)

“We’ll need more hands to collect the Dilly,”
Sampson motions to the bags strapped to his side. I glance to
Clarence and Qippert who also have the same sacks attached to their
suits. Each hold around five bags, so it’s fifteen total.

“And you really think the straight Dilly will
do it?” Tucker asks.

“It’s the next shot we’ve got.”

“But not the
best
?” Werzo asks.

“We don’t have a best shot,” Sampson shakes
his head, his optimistic expression falling. Glancing around at all
of us, he starts again. “Ready?”

“When you are,” Reid nods.

“Let’s go,” Sampson submerges and we’re right
after him, racing into the dark, murky waters below. We set off
immediately, soaring into the ocean and after a few seconds, the
lit up city disappears behind us. We’ve only been traveling for a
little while when Sampson’s voice breaks the eerie silence. “Thank
you all for coming with us on such short notice.”

“Well this was always the plan, wasn’t it?”
Jace asks.

“Not to deceive the queen…” Clarence shakes
his head at the thought. “Who
will
be furious—let’s not
forget this.”

“Unless we return with bags of straight
Dilly,” Werzo laughs. “Then she can’t be.”

“She can and she
will
,” Clarence
says.

“And that’s
if
we all return which,”
Sampson glances around, “I’ve promised the chancellor we will.
Please don’t make a liar out of me.”

“I think we can all agree to that,” Jace
says.

“So really,” I start, “how mad will she be if
we
all
return with fifteen bags of straight Dilly?”

“Still mad,” Clarence laughs, “that’s why we
went against her orders
without
the chancellor’s approval.
Understood?”

“Just to make sure I understand,” Werzo
sighs, “we’re risking our lives, fighting this deadly fucked up
monster on the off-chance that its food supply
might
save a
people who’s queen will be furious when we return? Is that—did I
get that right?”

“Werzo,” Reid glowers.

“You have it correct, young Rogue,” Qippert
says.

“And how are we getting repaid for this?”

“It’s not about repayment,” I throw him a
look. “They’re hosting us.”

“In lieu of Blovid.”

“Because we’re
guests
. And now they
need
our
help.”

“Even though they’re not
our
people…”
he keeps his voice low.

“Yes,” I snap. “Arizals. We’re
all
Arizals.”

“That’s right, Fallon,” Sampson nods. “And to
help people in need is never a waste. Besides, when the Vermix
attack again, we will need allies.”

“But wasn’t Queen Ravan already on our side?”
Tucker asks.

“Yes…” Sampson agrees, “…but through all of
this our relationship has deepened. Strengthened.”

“Wait…” Jace frowns. “If we need the
Mybyncians as an ally, won’t they be busy rebuilding their
population again? Shit,” he scoffs, “they’ve lost half their city
already.”

“Of four metropolises,” Sampson nods. “This
blow—though crucial—is not enough to damage much of their World.
And the Mybyncians still retain their Gift. They’re not a broken
people… just going through an unfortunate time.”

“But they have their
own
enemy to
face,” Booker adds in his soft but deep voice. “They’ll be too busy
fighting domestic threats to worry about foreign invaders,
right?”

“I doubt Perio will stay behind much longer,”
Qippert shakes his head. “He knows he is no longer a valued member
of their society. He will leave with the Muskos once they have
finished.”

“Finished what?” I ask.

“Whatever it is they are planning. If they
were not, they would have left already.”

“So we have to worry about the plague
and
the Muskos?” Werzo whines again. “Why can’t the other
governors help out?”

“I am sure they are doing a thorough search
for Perio and the Muskos,” Qippert explains, “but they cannot come
any closer to Pryncbia in fear of contracting the plague.”

“Can’t they use suits?” I ask.

“Pryncbia is the only city with a FH. None of
the other metropolises have reason to keep suits,” Clarence takes a
breath. “We’re on our own for this one.”

“Well that’s comforting.”

“What we
can
do,” Clarence goes on,
“is find the Gorgen, steal the straight Dilly and pray to the Way
it does the job.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Tucker asks.

All is quiet for a minute before Sampson
speaks again. “Qippert is going to do a quick scout on Harrizel and
see what’s happening. If the Vermix have cleared out—which most
likely is
not
the case—then we will return to get the
Tregmint. Werzo, you asked earlier about our best shot and I said
there’s only the
next
shot… visiting Nerwolix is the ideal
option because it has the actual antidote. But the Zingfinolds are
just as deadly as the Gorgen and ten times smarter. I don’t want to
get to that point, but if the straight Dilly doesn’t do it and
Harrizel is crawling with Vermix, we might end up walking into our
own deaths.”

“Nice,” Jace laughs. “A real win-win.”

“Well the queen can’t be mad at us if we’re
willing to risk our lives to save her kingdom,” Werzo murmurs.
“That’s all I’m saying.”

“Well you can tell her when we get back,” I
smile.

“Which we will,” Sampson nods. “But first
things first,” he motions to the darkness ahead.

We’re way outside of the city, our Millix
racing through the murky water, keeping together in one large herd
with Sampson leading the way.

“But really,” Werzo sighs after a long moment
of silence, “how hard can it be? Sampson will lead it away and
we’ll sneak in and steal the Dilly. We’ll be out in minutes,
right?”

“Werzo,” I exhale, “when have things ever
been easy?”

“But we’ve got the Fychu.”

“He’s right,” Sampson agrees to my surprise.
“The best we can hope for is a window of a few minutes. It won’t be
distracted long. You’ll need to get in and get out.”

“This just keeps getting better and better,”
Jace laughs.

“Come on,” I smirk. “Thought this would be
pie for a Rogue?”

“It will be, baby,” he winks. “It will
be.”

As we ride the rest of the way in silence,
through the dark waters farther and farther from the city, I can’t
help but think of the others. Everyone will be furious when they
wake up, especially Pratt. Mae will be worried, but Pratt will be
pissed she wasn’t invited to come, pissed we left her behind when
she specifically requested to come on the next mission.

I try not to think of this; try not to focus
on the return when I should really be focusing on the arrival,
which should be coming up shortly. We’ve been traveling for a
little over two hours—maybe it’s been more—when Sampson starts to
slow. He doesn’t come to a complete stop but we catch up with him
quickly, Werzo flying past without noticing. After a second he
spins, rounding back to the rest of us.

“Are we getting close?” I ask, as Sampson
finally comes to a halt.

He focuses ahead, out into the dark distance
with both hands on his Millix’s bairs. We all remain behind him,
awaiting his signal but he just sits there, staring out in the
murky depths.

After a minute Clarence pulls up next to him.
“Thought it would be further.”

Fychu seeks the Gorgen.

Lalu’s words startle me, her voice ringing in
my head. But I recover quickly and, replaying what she says, my
inward thought answers for me.

Yes, Lalu. He is.

Fychu does not know of the Gorgen’s
strength
.

What strength?

It is an evil creature. It will destroy any
who come to harm it.

We’re not trying to harm it. Just…steal from
it.

A moment goes by and I assume she
understands. I think of Sampson and Qippert’s words from earlier,
about bringing the Glippis leftovers to distract it while we sneak
in and stuff as much Dilly as possible into the bags we’ve
brought.

Diversion will not work.

Why not?

It will not be led away.

Something in my stomach tightens. What if
this doesn’t work?

Tell me, Lalu, how can we steal the
Dilly?

It cannot be stolen. Only claimed.

Meaning?

You must kill it.

“This way,” Sampson moves forward, the rest
of our group taking off behind him as he slowly makes his way into
the darkness ahead. Lalu follows along with the others, keeping
just behind Sampson and sandwiched between Reid and Qippert.

I replay Lalu’s last statement. If that’s the
truth, then we have no chance. Sure we have weapons, but what’s
that against razor sharp teeth and spewing acid?

How do we kill it?

The Gorgen dies of natural causes.

But there must be a way to kill it?

And then I know. The queen’s words come
spiraling back, the picture I couldn’t get out of my head since she
told me. It’s the image of Chancellor Keller striking into the
tender spot of the Gorgen’s belly with its own tooth. The Gorgen
died of a puncture wound. That’s the answer.

It will not be easy.

But possible
, I counter,
still
possible
.

“We’re nearly there,” Sampson lowers his
voice as he slows behind a small rock fragment. “I need you all to
keep behind me during this next part.”

“Stealth,” Jace nods.

“The Gorgen is over that boulder,” Sampson
gestures to a huge dark silhouette a few yards ahead, “and I’m
guessing the straight Dilly is not far. Let’s get a look and
regroup back here. Try not to reveal your presence, as I’m sure any
amount of Glippis parts won’t lead it from the Dilly with intruders
nearby.”

Everyone nods.

“Alright,” he glances between us all, “let’s
head out.” Sampson makes for the ominous boulder, Clarence and
Qippert racing behind him. Lalu and I take off after, Reid and
Palli to our left and Jace and his Millix to our right. The rest of
the Rogues follow behind, keeping our traveling herd tight and
silent.

My heart is thumping, hammering against the
hollow of my chest as I consider what we’re about to do. What we’re
about to face. It’s the terror of the Three Worlds, which,
according to Lalu, isn’t easily killed.

Sampson and the others reach the top of the
huge rock formation and we’re right behind them in seconds. This is
it. We’re finally going to see it. Joining the three Dofinikes
toward the boulder’s peak, we position ourselves as close to the
top as possible. Discretely, we peer over.

My blood runs cold.

There must be half a dozen.

I’m not certain—they’re moving too quickly,
all lengthy black limbs swatting about, crawling over one another
and through their nest of thick green tubes of weed below. Tiny
yellow specks dot their dark center, a few traveling up their legs
and some, just around the mass of tiny red eyes in their thick
middle. The underside of that must be the belly. That’s where you’d
need to puncture. But how would you even get to it?

I gulp.

There’s got to be six—maybe seven. I try to
do a count but they scurry on the tips of their teeth so quickly,
one blending into another into another. However many there are,
it’s more than just one and that might be too much. Who knows…
maybe we’ll have better odds with the Zingfinolds.

“Holy shit,” Jace whispers next to me.

“I thought you said there was going to be
just one?” Werzo whispers down the line.

“I don’t remember specifying,” Clarence gapes
at the scene, shell-shocked like the rest of us. “Fychu?”

But he’s concentrating, focusing on the group
of scuttling Gorgen. A moment longer and he finally nods, motioning
our retreat. We follow eagerly—more than eagerly—until we reach the
same small rock from before, quickly jetting behind it.

“I counted five. You?” he looks to
Clarence.

“Kept mixing them up. Figured half a dozen or
so.”

“Same,” I throw in.

“We were not prepared for an entire herd,”
Qippert exhales nervously, shifting looks between Sampson and
Clarence. “We do not have enough to lure them away. It will not
work.”

“We can’t come back,” Clarence shakes his
head, “this is our one shot. If we don’t try for it now…”

“There is no possible way we can get the
Dilly.”

“We can’t go back empty handed.”

“As long as we
come
back,” Qippert
argues, focusing on Sampson. “My vote is to abort.”

“I’m with Qippert,” Werzo pipes up. “There’re
too many…”

“If we abort now, we’re a go for the
Zingfinolds,” Reid says, pegging us each with a hard look. “That’s
what we’re deciding.”

Everyone quiets for a minute and finally
Sampson nods.

“Yes… I’m afraid so. With this unknown
factor, it ups our odds of defeat and I promised the chancellor
we’d all return.”

“So is that it then?” Werzo asks with
hope.

They sense you.

Lalu’s warning rings in my head, sending my
heart racing. There are more Gorgen than we counted on. If they
find us, we’re dead.

Do they know where we are?

No. Not yet.

“Uh… guys?” I try.

“Yes,” Sampson agrees. “It would probably be
best to abort, though I assure you, facing the Zingfinolds won’t be
any easier.”

They are searching.

“Guys?”

“If we leave now, they might not even know we
were gone. It’ll be like we never left,” Werzo tries wrapping it
up. “No harm, no foul, right? We tried, saw it for what it
was—impossible—and left. We should still get an award for
valor.”

They are coming for you.

“Guys!” I demand focus of the group. “We’ve
got to go… now!”

“Why, Fallon? What’s—move!” Sampson darts
backwards as a ferocious black leg clamps over the rock, snapping
it in two.