‘Ready?’ asked Tee.
‘Yep,’ answered Tark. Gal simply grunted.
They were each leaning up against tree trunks,
Tark and Gal holding loaded double crossbows, Tee cradling the IDD in his arms.
Tee straightened up. ‘Let’s go, then.’
The three of them stepped around the trees and out into the clearing, weapons at the ready. Two VIs hovered by the entrance to the cave, just outside the force-field. Tark and Tee both fired.
Tark’s bolt temporarily immobilised one of the
VIs.
A bright crackle of electricity arced from the tip of the IDD like a lightning strike to the other VI. It expanded as it absorbed the discharge, a balloon ready to burst. Tee was about to up the intensity and try again, when the expanded VI vanished in a blaze of light.
Tee fired again as the second VI regained its mobility. The process repeated itself - lightning, expansion, and disappearance.
‘Works,’ said Tark.
‘Seems to,’ agreed Tee.
‘Shoulds we tries it on that thing?’ Tark pointed to the cave.
Inside the cave, the static moved and bubbled, indistinct images whirling and eddying within it.
‘I’d like to try it out on a few more VIs first,’ said
Tee. ‘See what happens if I up the intensity a little.’
‘Here’s your chance,’ said Gal, looking up to the sky.
Five VIs were speeding in their direction. Tarkand Gal aimed their crossbows.
‘Leave them to me,’ instructed Tee, as he turned the dial on the IDD up one notch and fired. As the lightning struck the middle VI, the other four changed direction, splitting into two groups. The middle VI swelled, more so than the first two victims of the IDD, and vanished in a burst of light.
Tark and Gal watched anxiously as the remaining VIs combined themselves into two larger spheres and resumed their attack. Tee increased the intensity again, and fired at one and then the other.
‘That thing in there is getting bigger,’ warned Gal, gazing into the cave.
‘Time ta shoots it?’ said Tark, eagerly.
Malevolent eyes stared out from the depths of the fluctuating mass.
‘Not yet.’ Tee was staring up at the sky, a sheen of sweat across his brow.
Dozens of VIs were bearing down on them, flying in arrow formation, ready to strike.
‘Crap!’ said Gal, raising his crossbow. ‘We can’t handle so many of them.’
‘Damn the Designers,’ Tark swore. ‘Wots we gonna do now?’
‘There’s only one thing I can think of.’ Tee spun the dial on the IDD up to ten, aimed at the foremost VI and pulled the trigger.
Lightning arced through the sky, striking the leading VI. The formation froze in the air as the electricity crackled between them, creating linking tendrils of power and spreading the substance of the Interface. The VIs expanded simultaneously, merging as they grew.
The thing in the cave roiled and screeched, as ifcrying out in rage and pain.
And then the VIs were gone in one blinding crescendo of brightness. Tee squinted and held up a hand to shield his eyes, but watched every second of the destruction, while Tark and Gal turned away.
Dozens of dark, piercing eyes stared out from the cave at the three of them.
‘Now?’ asked Tark.
‘Now!’ Tee yelled.
Tark took out the remote control device that operated the force-field and pressed a button. The barrier shimmered as it switched off
Teeth gnashed and claws extended. The mass of static launched itself at them. Tee fired.
The creature howled as the electrical charge carried the pure substance of the Interface into it, slamming it back into the cave. It writhed and burbled as if trying to take on a definite shape. And it grew. A face formed within its depths. A face with evil eyes and a sharp-toothed grin.
‘Weak.’ The word emerged from the cave as a deeprumble, like the sound of a devastating earthquake.
Without hesitation, Tee slid back the panel, hit the override and fired again. He fought to hold onto the IDD as the power blazed forth.
‘Not enough!’ The words rumbled over the crackling sound of the discharge.
The energy finally dissipated, the IDD spent and useless. The face in the static solidified. It was huge and ugly and misshapen, its hate-filled eyes fixed on Tark.
‘Reactivate the force-field,’ ordered Tee.
Tark didn’t move. He stood, transfixed by the swirling static eyes.
‘Force-field!’ yelled Gal.
‘Zyra,’ the creature rumbled, baring its fangs. Tark dropped the control. He lifted his crossbowand fired both bolts. Laughter rumbled from thecave. Gal jumped forward, scooped up the control and activated the force-field.
A shimmer flickered across the mouth of the cave. The mass of sizzling malevolence grew, surging forward and pressing itself against the barrier. Sparks filled the air as claws formed in the static, scrabbling against the invisible screen.
‘You idiot!’ growled Gal.
‘Zyra,’ Tark whispered, dropping his crossbow. ‘It said Zyra.’
‘So what?’ Gal turned to Tee. ‘You see? You can’ttrust him. He’s a risk.’
‘Zyra’s in danger.’ Tark’s voice was louder and higher as he grabbed Gal by his tunic, shaking him.
‘We’ve gotta do somethin’.’
Tee placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘We’re trying.’
‘It ain’t good enough.’ Tark released Gal and shook Tee’s hand off He stared down at the ground where a small animal was burrowing its way up out of the earth.
‘He’s unstable,’ hissed Gal.
Tark glared up at Gal, ready to yell back. His words caught in his throat as his eyes widened. He bent down, yanked the little burrowing creature out of its hole and threw it at Gal.
Gal yelped and ducked. The creature slammed into the VI that had appeared behind Gal. The menacing grey ball halted as it took apart the hapless animal, giving Tee just enough time to drop the IDD, snatch the crossbow from his belt, load and fire it. Meanwhile, Tark scooped up his own crossbow from where he had dropped it, loaded it and quickly fired.
‘Unstable,’ muttered Tark, as the VI dispersed. Gal straightened up and managed to mumble ahalf-hearted, ‘Thanks.’
‘Come on.’ Tee picked up the IDD, gently took
Tark’s arm and led him away, leaving Gal to follow.
As the three of them headed off into the Forest, they could hear the creature laughing and screeching as it tried to break through the barrier that confined it.