Chapter 20: Through Fire and Fury
Thorn and Lira moved swiftly through the labyrinth of tunnels toward the eastern junction. The air grew hotter and heavier with every step as the Bastion's machinery churned to keep the fortress running. The sound of distant alarms and heavy boots reverberated through the walls, a constant reminder of how close the Iron Order was.
Thorn glanced at Lira, his cocky demeanor slipping just slightly. "You think the big guy's right about the Shard blowing up? Or is this one of those 'Kael being dramatic' moments?"
Lira didn't look at him, her focus on the path ahead. "Kael doesn't exaggerate. If he says we've got minutes, then we've got minutes. Stay sharp."
Thorn shrugged, drawing one of his twin blades. "Sharp's what I do best."
The Relays
The eastern junction was a sprawling room filled with massive power relays, their conduits glowing faintly with the same eerie violet light as the Shard. The room buzzed with energy, the hum of machinery almost drowning out the muffled voices of the Iron Order soldiers patrolling the area.
Lira pulled Thorn into the shadows, her voice barely above a whisper. "Six guards. Two near the central console, the rest patrolling. If we're fast, we can take them out quietly."
"Quiet isn't really my style," Thorn said with a grin, though he lowered his voice.
Lira shot him a sharp look. "This isn't a joke. We need to take out the guards, disable the relays, and get out before reinforcements show up. One misstep, and we're dead."
Thorn sighed, feigning disappointment. "Fine, fine. Quiet it is."
The Silent Takedown
Lira moved first, her steps silent as she slipped through the shadows. She notched an arrow and drew it back, aiming for the guard nearest the console. The arrow flew true, striking the soldier in the throat. He crumpled silently, his body hitting the floor with a soft thud.
Thorn followed her lead, darting toward another guard and slashing his blade across the man's neck in one fluid motion. He caught the body before it fell, lowering it gently to the ground.
One by one, they eliminated the guards, their movements synchronized and efficient.
As Thorn dispatched the last soldier, he wiped his blade on the man's armor and turned to Lira. "See? I can be quiet when I want to be."
"Don't get cocky," Lira replied, already moving toward the central console. "We're not done yet."
Disabling the Relays
The console was a complex array of dials and switches, its interface glowing with the same unnatural energy that permeated the Bastion. Lira knelt in front of it, her hands moving quickly as she began overriding the controls.
Thorn stood guard, his blades drawn and his eyes scanning the room. "How long is this gonna take?"
"Longer if you keep talking," Lira said without looking up.
Thorn smirked but stayed silent, his attention focused on the entrances to the junction.
Lira worked quickly, her brow furrowing in concentration. The Iron Order's systems were heavily encrypted, but she had studied their technology for years. With every keystroke, she dismantled the safeguards, rerouted power, and overloaded the circuits.
"Almost there," she muttered.
Thorn tensed as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. "Uh, Lira? We've got company."
"How many?"
"Enough to make things interesting," Thorn replied, his grin returning.
Holding the Line
The door to the junction burst open, and a squad of Iron Order soldiers stormed in, their rifles raised. Thorn didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his blades a blur as he engaged the first wave of enemies.
"Lira, keep working! I'll handle this!" he shouted.
Lira didn't respond, her focus entirely on the console.
Thorn fought with a mix of ferocity and precision, his twin blades carving through the soldiers with deadly efficiency. Despite his bravado, the fight was intense, the sheer number of enemies threatening to overwhelm him.
"Anytime now, scout!" he called, his voice strained as he parried a strike and countered with a fatal blow.
"Done!" Lira shouted, slamming the final switch. The relays powered down, their glow fading as the room went dark.
"Great!" Thorn replied, kicking an enemy into a nearby console. "Now how about we get out of here?"
Lira didn't wait for him to finish. She fired an arrow into a soldier's back, grabbed Thorn by the arm, and pulled him toward the exit.
The Narrow Escape
The two of them sprinted through the tunnels as the Bastion began to shudder. The power relays' shutdown had disrupted the fortress's systems, causing lights to flicker and machinery to grind to a halt.
Behind them, the sound of shouting and gunfire grew louder.
"Any brilliant ideas for losing them?" Lira asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Thorn grinned. "Actually, yeah. Follow me!"
He veered into a side passage, leading her through a series of winding tunnels. Lira hesitated but trusted his instincts, following close behind.
The passage opened into a maintenance shaft with a narrow ladder leading upward. Thorn climbed first, his movements quick and agile. Lira followed, her bow slung over her shoulder.
As they reached the top, Thorn pushed open a hatch, revealing a dimly lit corridor. He turned to Lira with a satisfied grin.
"See? Told you I had it under control."
Lira rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smile. "Let's just find Kael and finish this."