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Chapter 17

Mother Confessor:

Visions of hand crafted castles of stone and mortar, fields filled with mischievous fantasy characters, fill my head. Riding on a multi legged beast, high in a saddle through meadows and forest filled with fairies. Exploring caves crawling with ugly trolls, and goblins gnashing their pointed teeth in the musky gloom. Slaying tyrannical monsters, and outwitting ogres.

The absurd images play across my subconscious mind. Dancing like, I was now with my prince. In a lovely light green ball gown, in a ballroom to the upbeat tempo of ancient stringed instruments. The nasally highs from the smaller, accompanied by the baritone lows of the larger. I felt lighter than air, indulging in the festivities filled with smiling faces and merriment. Grinning from ear to ear, twirling like a happy tornado. I like the warm feeling of happiness fill the very depth of my soul.

Never wanting these moments to end, but to be frozen in time. Carefree and jubilant, with feet to whisk me away on the journey. Bounding, and stepping rhythmically down a path, to untold and unknown wonders. Being generous with those who are in need, and helpful to those that cannot shoulder their burdens on their own. Oh how I wish the fantasies would last, they do entice me so.

Marckus:

Through the first of the two doors to the second level to the complex. Studying the security panel for a moment.

“Any of you guys happen to have an access card on you”, I ask the crew at my back, glaring at the mocking little console.

Captain Graxis curtly reports back, “No, sir”. I did not think they had, oh well not going to let the metal door stand in my way.

“Well you better go and replace one, meet back here in ten”, I order the soldiers.

“Aye,” they all loudly acknowledge the order.

I figure waiting at the locked door, just on the off chance someone comes through it. I watch as the five reptilian warriors retrace their steps in search of a key card. Waiting till they are out of sight, I enact my own access clearance pass.

Now with the room available, hefting the war hammer off my shoulders. Taking a few steps back, positioning the curved spike to my target. Rushing at the door, putting my full weight into the heavy hammer. A loud clang rings out from the metal on metal impact. Recoiling the hammer, and turning the multi-spiked side at the door, I repeat the motion. Smashing into the exact spot as I had before, observing the metal starting to buckle from the force of the impact. Not wanting to keep rushing at the door, I pound on it loudly with only my strength behind each blow.

Sweat starts to moisten my brow, arms, back, and chest with each new swing. This door is tough, but I am tougher I tell myself. Not letting the fatigue of swinging the war hammer keep me from my goal. Raising my mask to wipe my brow free of the salty moisture. Raising the hammer again, feeling the cool air on my face. Sparks and shrapnel erupt in defiance of my efforts. Releasing its bellows of grating agony, I strike the obstruction. Spewing more sparks and metal fragments at me as it howls in agony, it is starting to give way.

Wiping my brow again, my whole upper body burning from the task at hand. Taking a deep breath and raising the hammer once more. Swinging the hammer in a downward arch this time, using the weight to my advantage. Each impact followed by bellows and nasty fragments gnawing at my exposed arms.

Setting the war hammer against the wall, resting for a minute. Observing my efforts in penetrating the locked door. Bulging outward, a small amount of bright light seeps through three of the edges. Taking my canteen from my belt, I take two large mouthfuls of water. Replacing it back on my belt, I return to battering the heavily mauled door.

Picking back up my rhythm with the hammer, and the crippling door. An old work song playing in my mind, in time to my motions. Clang, howl and spit, repeat. Every showering of sparks and shrapnel baptizing me for what waits beyond. Every howl cursing me for wanting to pass through the threshold.

Finally the door starts to relinquish itself to my will. Wailing on the now severely weakened door, its cries of frustrated defeat fill my ears. Cracking under the continuous onslaught from the hard impacts of the hammer. A grin parts my cracked lips, as I deliver the final devastating blows.

Taking another few swings at the defiant obstacle, it falls in large chunks into the space beyond. The clanging of the fragments sounds my victory, and entrance to the floor behind it. Taking another generous swig from my canteen, I replace it with my pistol. Sliding my mask back down. Sweeping the immediate vicinity within, though it is empty. Taking the remaining minutes until the squad returns, to recoup some of my strength.

Graxis:

After searching all the enemy bodies and recovering a key card, as well as Red Wolf’s kitana. We started our long run back to the stairwell. High tailing it back, leaving bloody boot prints the whole way back.

At the top of the staircase sat the Ober-Commander with his hands arms resting on his knees.

“What took you so long, Captain”, he laughs from his perch.

“Long run, sir”, I reply breathing heavy starting back up the stairs. Flashing the plastic access card halfway up at the aging senior officer. He returns the sight of the blood stained card with a roar of laughter. Confused at this I leap up the final steps, unsure of what is so funny. Then I see the reason, the door was all over the inside of the next room in warped chunks.

Marckus:

Standing up from the step, “Good job getting the card, just thought I would open the door, Captain”, I laugh at the officer.

“ Well that is one way to go about, sir”, Captain Graxis jabs back.

Hefting the heavy mallet back onto my shoulders, following the captain through the mangled threshold.

The intensity of the light on the second floor is twice as bright as the lower level. Coupled with the glare from the ceramic walls and ceiling. The place is spotless and felt sterile. We had no trouble soiling the pristine environment with the blood of the dead dripping from body armor and boots. Walking down this new corridor, leaving a trail back to the exit in coagulating blood.

For ten meters we traverse the clean hall, and then a door comes into view. It is almost indistinguishable from the wall. Thrusting my hand up to halt the group, noting the irony considering what I had done to get us this far. Standing in front of the seamless hatchway, looking for a mechanism to open it. No slap pad, or keyed entry. Examining for any sign of a way to gain entrance, but replaceing none. Playing out my curiosity as it is. Switching to infra-red to see if it worked on the ceramic structure. This proved to be useless as well as more blinding than the already blinding light. Going back to normal vision, I decide to try simply touching the enigmatic mechanism. Placing a hand on its smooth surface for a moment. Withdrawing it from the cold defiant thing. Leaving a partial handprint on the clean surface. Glaring at the smudged door for a moment.

Well that was a waste time. Just a few hours into this mission, and this is what I replace. Looking at the Captain hoping he has a better idea.

“Perhaps there is someone still alive up here that can get you what you want, sir” ,the sharp witted captain chimes in.Good he has a thought worth noting.

“New game plan children”, I address the soldiers, ”Graxis you’re with me. Sergeant, take your boys the other way. It would be ideal if you replace someone that you take them prisoner. I want to know what is going on here. “

“Yes, Commander” , rasps the Master Sergeant. The dissipating sound of their boots in the distance, as the Captain and I continue down our side of the corridor.