Chapter Nineteen

THALANIL CREPT ALONG the left side of the room, stopping at the halfway point and motioning for the others to go ahead. Orion led Caleb to the back corner pillar, where they huddled together as best they could—though neither of them would be using the cover much longer, as much as Thalanil was loath to think of it in this instance. Looking back, he found Keenan at the other corner nearest the entrance, giving him a thumbs-up.

Across from him, Shaw held up his hand, motioning Rowan to stay back at the corner column, mirroring Keenan’s position. “In position back here,” Marcus whispered into the comms. Thalanil pivoted to find him at the backside of the chamber, Haxos fanned out at the opposite flank from their werewolves.

Thalanil adjusted the rifle in his grasp as he knelt behind the column.

Shaw’s voice over the comms was the slightest ghost of a breath. “Prepare for lights in five...four…”

He flipped his night-vision goggles up and closed his eyes.

“Three...two…”

He took a deep breath, holding it.

“One.”

He exhaled as a flood of light filled the room. A deafening shriek was accompanied by a flailing body. The entire chamber shuddered in response.

Thalanil’s eyes flew open, and he moved. Spinning from around the pillar onto his other knee, he leveled his rifle. What he saw was a towering beast, furious beyond reason at the intrusion into its domain, being pelted from all fronts by bullets, magic, and claws.

Hardened slate-gray scales would prove challenging even to armor-piercing rounds. Bony spikes along its head and spine would protect it from attack until those curved talons and rows of teeth could eviscerate anyone who got too close. Thalanil was fairly certain, though, that dragons weren’t supposed to have glowing eyes and a smoky aura around them, both dark purple in this one’s case. He was willing to bet that had something to do with the Inquisition’s tampering.

Steeling himself, Thalanil breathed outward and took aim. He placed the crosshairs at the base of the throat, at the front of the barreled chest where he hoped the creature’s heart would be. After squeezing the trigger, he cursed. The bullet impacted near to perfect on target, but rather than pierce the hide of the dragon, it shattered across the strong armor plate.

He tried again, and a third time, with the same exact result. Thalanil ducked back behind his pillar as the dragon’s head swung around his way. Teeth the size of his skull smashed together between the columns. The dragon huffed a few times in frustration, the heated air from its nostrils hitting Thalanil as a force all its own.

The dragon’s attention suddenly turned elsewhere, a clawed hand swiping out across the room. “I need a better shot,” Thalanil growled into his comm. “My armor-piercing rounds aren’t doing shit.”

“Same here,” Marcus said.

Thalanil peeked out at the chaos, only to duck back when a massive tail whipped around. It made contact with his hiding place, concrete cracking dangerously. “We need a way to get between those plates. Fast.” The fact they overlapped was not doing them any favors.

“I have an idea,” Keenan said. Thalanil looked over at him where he was still ducked behind the neighboring column. “I’ll need some time to charge up. And a clear shot.”

“Leave it to us,” Shaw said.

With that, a stream of rifle fire sounded from the opposite side of the room, followed by echoing shots from Marcus and Haxos. Thalanil chanced another look right as an ice spike was flung straight at the side of the dragon’s head. Rowan smirked as he disappeared backward into a cloud of mist before the dragon could strike him.

The dragon roared. The sound was piercing as it echoed on the stone walls of the chamber. Its neck whipped around to where Orion and Caleb were trying to claw their way through its toughened hide at its flank. As it reared its head back, Thanlanil shouted a warning, but the pair were already moving. Purple flames shot from the dragon’s mouth, straight at the spot they’d been, having just been able to slide under its tail and out the other side.

“Fuck me!” Marcus shouted, curling behind a pillar as he, too, was near the blast radius. Flames wrapped around to lick at him, but a ball of shadow enveloped Marcus, holding it at bay.

Even from the side, Thalanil could feel the heat from the flames. Unnatural magic seeped from it. Smoke flaked from the creature’s glowing amethyst eyes.

Rearing back on its hind legs, the dragon gave another shriek. It extended its wings with a powerful thrust backward. They slammed into all the pillars on Thalanil’s side, causing him to curse as he once more heard concrete giving way to the sheer force behind the blows. He watched as a long crack traveled up the pillar, fragmenting into a spiderweb of stress fractures. “Not good.”

The dragon whirled once again before it began to thrash, its tail whacking between Thalanil’s support column and Keenan’s. Dust and pieces of concrete started to fall. Not about to stick around, he dove under the dragon’s tail. He timed it with the backswing, rolling through to the other side. He heard the shatter of concrete behind him, the pillar fragmenting across the ground.

The dragon turned toward the sound, its back to the rest of the team. Orion and Caleb, who had continued to circle around, dashed out of hiding and leapt into the air. They landed on an invisible puff of wind before leaping once more up onto the back of the beast. Rowan had his hand extended, clearly the source of the assistance. As soon as the dragon started to spin in a circle, attempting to remove the werewolves, Rowan flung another spell at it. This time a swarm of small lights zipped around its head, bursting randomly with bright, blinding flashes.

Pawing at its face with one clawed hand, the dragon whipped its tail around. Rowan barely managed to wisp away into his conjured smoke in time. Shaw wasn’t so lucky, having stepped out to start firing once again. He went flying, impacting hard and sliding across the floor. Emerging from in front of Shaw’s prone form, Haxos leveled his SAW. He unleashed an entire belt of ammo into the face, neck, and chest of the dragon as it turned. Marcus spun out of his own hiding spot to unload on it as well.

“You ready, Thal?” Keenan asked from beside him. His eyes were glowing white when they met, an aura of crackling energy around him. “We might only have one shot at this, so make it count.”

“Got it.” Thal nodded. Orion, get the dragon to come toward the door.

As soon as Haxos and Marcus took cover again, avoiding a blast of purple fire, Orion and Caleb acted. They snapped and clawed at the dragon’s back to draw its ire. Sliding down its spine, they took off in a dead run for the doorway they had all entered through.

Keenan gave him a nod, and together they spun out of hiding on opposite sides. Right as the werewolves were passing by them—and the dragon was rearing back for another fire attack—Keenan unleashed the spell, both palms turning upward as he extended his arms.

Lightning discharged into the air, wrapping around the dragon. Every muscle in its body seized up, its chest perfectly exposed. The incantation was holding but wouldn’t last forever. Thalanil gazed down his scope in search of just the right spot. He found it in the midst of the sparking energy, a section where the scales didn’t overlap as it transitioned into the stomach area.

He breathed out, time seeming to slow around him as his vision focused onto the singular location, his hearing fading to nothing but the barest sounds of electrical arcing. He squeezed the trigger, the bullet speeding through the air. This time, the impact made purchase, slipping through the tough hide into the chest cavity. Two more quickly followed, accompanied by shrieks of pain.

The spell released, leaving behind the heavy aroma of ozone. Glowing eyes faded, the dragon collapsing to the ground with a thud that shook the cavern. The eerie smoke continued to rise from the corpse for a few more moments before that too dissipated.

The atmosphere in the room decompressed, everyone slowly appearing. A deep groan from the back corner kicked them into action. “Shaw!” Rowan yelled.

He gingerly sat up, arm wrapped around his middle. Haxos supported him with a leg pressed behind him. “Do not move too quickly. You may have a concussion.”

Rowan knelt next to him, giving Shaw a rapid once-over. “What hurts?”

Orion and Caleb had returned to their human forms, the latter offering his hand to Rowan. “Do that healing thing.”

“I don’t think it’s as bad as all that,” Shaw protested. “Save your strength.”

Rowan threw him a look as he grabbed Caleb’s hand and crouched beside Shaw. “Where does it hurt?” he repeated.

Shaw grumbled, removing his hand from his chest as he admitted, “Feels a bit worse for wear here. Bruised for sure, but likely cracked something on that landing.”

Rowan sighed in obvious irritation but only said, “Gimme just a minute.” Familiar shadowy energy began to form around Caleb, drawing its way into Rowan as he worked.

“What do we do with this thing?” Marcus asked, drawing Thalanil’s attention. Turning around, he found Marcus toeing at the corpse before looking up at him. “Think Command would like a look at it?”

Keenan scoffed. “I’m sure they would.”

Thalanil wouldn’t argue that. The—very likely—clone of a dragon would be impossible to pass up. Even if it was only a corpse. That, plus the research notes they’d acquired, would certainly be of interest to their Scientific Corps, and likely some historians as well.

Looking up to the hydraulic sliding doors that made up the ceiling here, he could safely say it would line up with the other ones they found between the levels. At least now they could assume just what type of “heavy equipment” they had been moving deeper into the tunnels. Or perhaps the dragon had been born here, and it was a way to allow it access out of the facility once their experiments here were concluded.

“Think we can get it out?” Keenan inquired, following his gaze.

“Eh,” Marcus said, “is it even worth it? Maybe just bring some hunks back? I mean...I’m all for keeping some scales and a few claws.”

“I’m game.”

Before Thalanil could scold them, Orion spoke up. “Do you smell that?” That drew all of their attention, finding light smoke billowing out of the ventilation he was pointing to.

“Well, that can’t be good,” Caleb said. He sniffed a couple of times. “That’s steam. But I can detect fumes leaking from somewhere as well.”

“Shit,” Shaw said as he was helped to his feet. “Where did you see that geothermal setup?”

“It should be just below us.” Haxos’s brows furrowed, a front hoof scraping at the uneven floor. There was a subtle shudder beneath their feet, almost in answer.

“Time to move,” Thalanil ordered, shoving Orion ahead of him toward the exit.

“We have to stabilize the system,” Keenan insisted. He took the lead and rushed into the stairwell ahead of them.

They made their way down the metal staircase, surrounded by rough-hewn rock, into the final level of the facility. “Fuck me sideways,” Keenan said.

Thalanil shielded his face as he stepped inside. Steam was leaking heavily into the room, filling the space. “Someone find an emergency vent or shutoff,” he ordered, blinking rapidly as his eyes started to tear.

“Gotcha, boss,” Marcus coughed, metal fist pounding sideways against the wall into a red button. Powerful fans in the ceiling whirred to life. It pulled the heated air, and whatever other caustic elements were mixed with it, upward and out.

Haxos had already nudged a chair aside from the console and was now typing away at a keyboard. His balaclava was pulled up over his face to protect it.

Keenan was looking at a set of panels, studying the various gauges. “That fight must have damaged the internal systems of this place.”

“What’ve we got?” Shaw asked warily.

“Looks like some of that fire got into the ventilation system and traveled down to geothermal. Boiled off the water. This thing’s destabilizing. Quickly.”

Thalanil glanced at a pipe rattling beside him. That didn’t build confidence.

Haxos said, “That is not the only damage. There is a chain reaction in all the systems—electrical is shorting throughout the grid. I doubt the vibrations caused by the collapsing pillar helped anything.”

Shaw snorted. “We’ll be sure to lodge a complaint with the Inquisition regarding their poor structural planning, and their choice to house a live dragon in an unfinished facility, on our way out.”

“This thing is gonna blow,” Keenan warned. He looked up to meet Shaw’s gaze, then Thalanil’s. “It’s gonna level this whole place.”

“Good,” Marcus said, and Orion growled in agreement.

“Not if we’re still in it. We have to leave.” As though to emphasize Keenan’s point, alarms started blaring. Multiple warnings for pressure overloads and leaks flashed on the screens.

“I will stay behind,” Haxos said, moving over to adjust one of the valves to better move the building steam.

Thalanil’s head whipped around. “What do you mean you’ll stay?”

“There is no time to argue,” Haxos said, stamping a back hoof. “If someone does not stay, then it will blow up before any of us have the chance to make it out. I am the obvious choice.”

“Hax—”

“I do not have many years left,” he cut off Shaw’s protest. “And there is a reason I am the electronics specialist for this team. I am the only choice.”

As the earth shuddered beneath them and a pressure gauge skyrocketed, Keenan flipped a few switches to auxiliary in order to bring it down, stabilizing the system for just a little while longer. “Go,” he urged. “I’ll stay with him.”

“Keenan,” Haxos began, only to have Keenan’s mismatched gaze whirl on him.

“I can shield us both.”

“It will not be enough.”

“I damn well can try,” Keenan spat. “I refuse to let you die alone. We’re a family. No man left behind.”

The pair stared at each other, neither wanting to give.

“Guys?” Caleb said as the tremors started again. “We don’t have time for this. We need to go.”

“All of us,” Thalanil added, his gaze darting between the pair.

“Can’t do that, sir,” Keenan said, looking at him with a slight smile on his lips. “See you on the other side.”

They both looked at the team, their determination clear, though their eyes shone with sadness. No one wanted to go. No one wanted to leave them behind. Yet they weren’t given much of a choice.

“Go!” Haxos snapped, front hoof smacking the grated floor.

There was no real time to say goodbye, each of them throwing out parting words as they were ushered up the stairwell. Thalanil was last, hesitating in the doorway. He finally nodded at them, jaw clamped shut. He disappeared into the stairwell, heart heavy at leaving behind two of his brothers to surely die.

As he caught up with the others, the complex shook violently once more. The lights flickered wildly, some sparking before dying completely. The walls started to crack with the intensity, pieces breaking off and debris falling on them.

“Fuck,” Marcus said, covering his head with his metal arm. Thalanil could hear the impact from the chunk of rock, cringing in sympathy.

“Mar!”

“Keep going,” he encouraged Caleb, pushing him forward after Rowan and Shaw in the lead.

Orion’s thoughts were a scattered mess—regret at leaving their squadmates behind, worry for Marcus, for Rowan when he stumbled missing a step, debating whether they could possibly make it out and far enough away in time, back to Keenan and Haxos.

Mate, Thalanil projected, causing Orion to tense and stop. Thalanil snagged his arm on the way by, dragging him back into motion. Focus. I need you to focus.

Sorry.

Don’t be sorry. Just keep going.

Orion’s focus shifted singularly to retracing their steps.

Thalanil moved through a haze of time. Passing through the ground level of the fortress, they weaved through the machinery and vehicles. As they burst through the door into the glare of day, they shared a moment of panic before the knowledge that the mines had been disabled hit them.

They ran—the only thing they could do. Their breaths came shallower and chests burned, yet they tore through the dormant minefield toward the open plain, hoping to reach the outcropping of rocks for some form of cover, some semblance of safety.

The sound of the explosion rumbled from deep inside the stronghold before crashing outward. Thalanil started to turn, watching in horror as fire and rubble sprayed into the air.

“Down!” Rowan cried, throwing up a shield to block what aimed right for them. Grunting upon first impact, Rowan gritted his teeth, magic tangible in the air. When the last of it pinged off the shield, Rowan dropped to his knees, completely exhausted.

Shaw went to him, checking to be sure he was alright before looking at the rest of them. “Everybody in one piece?”

“My arm hurts,” Marcus hissed. A large dent dominated his forearm, the metal crunching. It wouldn’t have felt pleasant, to be sure, but it was better than shattered bones.

Orion walked a short distance toward the stronghold. Smoke and dust from debris choked the air, the heat from the fires keeping them at bay. The fortress was nothing but ruin, crumbled walls and tangled rebar. Thalanil could feel as much as see Orion’s distress.

“Where are they?” Orion asked. When no one answered, he turned to them. Where are they? he repeated with more force.

“Ri…” Caleb couldn’t find the words, shaking his head. He looked at Marcus, holding his damaged arm.

“Orion.” Thalanil walked up to him, attempting to console him, but Orion was having none of it.

“They’re still in there!” he cried, taking a step back. “We need to get to them!”

“Ri,” Shaw reasoned, still standing over Rowan as he was catching his breath, “no one could have survived that.”

“Keenan has strong shields!” Orion said. “Better than Rowan’s even!”

Thalanil couldn’t argue that. Keenan had saved them from some deadly situations before, thanks to his shielding ability. Where Rowan had been drained by such a large one, Keenan would have brushed it off and kept going. Even so, the pair had been at the epicenter. The pressures alone would have been enough to kill them.

“Orion,” he tried once more.

“No!” Tears welled in Orion’s eyes. “No! They’re down there! They have to be!” His voice cracked. “They have to be…”

Thalanil gathered him into his arms as Orion’s tears flowed freely. He clung to the back of Thalanil’s vest, sobbing against his neck. “They’re gone,” Thalanil said, choking on his own words. “They’re gone, Ri.” Thalanil rested his chin on top of Orion’s head, wishing more than anything he could change the outcome.

“Maybe there’s a chance,” Caleb said. Marcus tried to argue, but Caleb insisted, “What if they’re alive? Shouldn’t we at least try to find them?”

Rowan stood, a little shaky but alright. “I can look.”

Orion was visibly working to calm himself, a determination filling his eyes. “I’ll try to find them with scent.” There was no talking him out of it, and Thalanil was left grasping at air when Orion shifted forms.

“I’ll help too,” Caleb insisted, shifting next. Thalanil glanced at Marcus and Shaw, each of them unwilling to say anything against the attempt.

While Rowan scanned the area for any signs of life using his magic, the pair of werewolves picked their way across the rubble.

I can’t smell anything, Orion whined. Thalanil heard the distress that was already starting to build again.

“Be careful!” Marcus called, debris shifting under the wolves.

It’s not worth your life, Thalanil reasoned with his own mate.

Rowan sighed heavily, turning to Shaw. “There’s nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

Rowan hung his head in defeat.

“Sh. I’ve got you.” Shaw slid in beside him, arm wrapping around Rowan in support. He looked over at Thalanil then, regretfully saying, “We need to get out of here.”

Thalanil sighed but agreed, “We need to be into those mountains before any soldiers arrive.” They couldn’t be tied to what happened, much less be found there.

A yelp drew their attention, and Orion held up his paw. Caleb grabbed him by the ruff, tugging him away from the shifting debris that sparked fire upward, previously hidden just below the surface. I’m alright, Orion assured, looking back at them. It’s getting really hot though.

It’ll only get hotter the closer you get to the source. It would only further lower the chance of survival for Keenan and Haxos, though Thalanil didn’t have the heart to project that.

“Time to go!” Shaw called. “We can’t stay here!”

Clearly Orion had no intention of abandoning the search, but after a sharp bark from Caleb, he reluctantly followed behind.

Shaw began leading the group up the planned egress route into the mountains, where they could call in the extraction team from a safe distance. Thalanil waited for them all to pass in order to bring up the rear, taking a long look at the rubble, watching fire snaking from crevices and electrical sparks from destroyed conduit. He trudged after the group, every step seemingly heavier than the last.

At the crest of the ridge, before ducking out of sight, Thalanil turned to look upon the structure one last time. Thick pillars of black smoke had begun to rise into the sky. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to turn away. The cold wind biting at his back, Thalanil knew part of his soul would forever remain behind in this frozen hellscape.