Chapter Three - The Weapon

10 Griev 10.075 Z.C., Afternoon

“Clear the firing range!”

Lilla flinched and pressed even closer to the wall. From the far end of the room she heard the hum of mana charging, then a glaring beam of red, white, and blue lightning burst past her. The room lit up, and Lilla’s eyes burned from the intensity of the heat. She squeezed them shut and turned away from the blistering heat. The blare of the condensed raw magical energy deafened her. Lilla stood utterly still for what seemed an eternity, her senses numb, feeling exposed in her position against the wall.

All at once, the blast stopped. The room felt empty again, without the pulsating energy and heat beaming through it. Lilla heard the scientists discussing the test results, but couldn’t make out the words. Even though the blast stopped, her ears rang with a dull roar like being underwater. She could hear words, muffled and indistinct. She hoped the engineers weren’t raising the alarm. The sudden darkness of the room blinded her, and she realized the purpose of the goggles all the researchers wore.

She waited in painful silence until her eyes and ears recovered, not daring to move until her vision came back. It felt like hours, but Lilla knew only about thirty seconds passed by the time she recovered her senses. She began to creep forward again, but just as she did, a gaggle of researchers stepped out of an alcove, walking straight towards her.

Lilla pressed against the wall again and froze in the shadows, holding her breath and resting a hand on the hilt of her rapier. Examining the group more closely now, they seemed too casual to be on alert. They all chatted and strolled toward the door; no one reaching for weapons or calling soldiers to remove her. As they passed her, close enough to touch, the urge to scramble away almost overpowered her, but the vedalken held steady. Somehow, they left the room none the wiser.

With them gone, she waited a few seconds longer to see if anyone else came. No one else appeared, and she relaxed, whispering thanks to the shadows for concealing her. Starting again, she crept along the wall until she could crane her neck around the corner and see into the alcoves ahead.

There, on a raised pedestal under a pair of spotlights, sat her target. The mizzium tank on the back glowed blue, feeding at least half a dozen hoses which wound around and fed into the core and barrel. She’d seen pictures of a mizzium apparatus before, a shoulder-mounted device which feeds magical energy into a handheld conduit, used by the League of Izzet to enhance their spellcasting prowess.

But this weapon looked too large to be operated by a single person, even with two hands. Perhaps the Boros designed it to be wielded by giants? Whatever the case, this had to be the weapon, and the blast would be more than powerful enough to incinerate Boulder Tooth.

With no cover around, she decided to act natural. She would simply stand up straight and walk closer to examine the weapon. She could see from here it would be a challenge to carry out, but wasn’t too large for her to manage. It sat mounted to the pedestal with sturdy mizzium brackets. Considering the force of the blast she’d witnessed, the brackets needed to be strong.

All that remained between her and the weapon were a few bolts and the hallways out of this maze. She’d already lost a lot of time, and needed to get moving. Her disguise would fade soon.

Looking around the rest of the room, she noticed most of the researchers already left in the earlier group. Two more still lingered on the side of the room furthest from the weapon, and one at the central workstation. They all appeared engrossed in their work.

Gathering all her courage, Lilla straightened up and stepped away from the wall. She walked across the room with her chin held high, trying to look like she belonged there. Expecting to be stopped at any moment, she made it all the way across the large room and into the circles of bright light shining down on the weapon. She stepped around the pedestal, using it and the weapon to shield her from the researchers’ line of sight.

Turning her full attention to the weapon, she investigated the brackets holding it in place. The fasteners themselves were bolted down, and conveniently enough the tools to unfasten them still lay on the pedestal. With a small smile, she picked up the discarded tools and unbolted the brackets.

When she touched the weapon, she found it still warm from the mana discharge. Lilla frowned, and tested a few places with the back of her hand. Warm, but not hot enough to burn, she decided. As soon as she loosened the weapon from its bolts, she pulled it into her arms. She strained a little under the weight of it, as expected, but could cradle it in both arms.

Now, every second she lingered increased her chances of detection, and ran the clock on her disguise. She’d gotten past the guards without trouble, now she just needed to get out with the weapon in tow and make it back to the war tent. Lilla hugged the weapon close and marched toward the door.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the Izzet, but none of them looked up from their work. She took a deep breath when she reached the archway without detection, adjusting her grip on the weapon in the dark antechamber. With any luck, the maze of hallways would be as empty now as before.

Pushing through the iron door, Lilla made her way back through the hallways, glad she’d paid so much attention to the turns. She passed through the courtyard where she first saw the researchers. Halfway there.

She pressed on, the weapon’s weight fatiguing her arms. She recited a Gruul prayer to the Raze-Boar, out of habit rather than belief. Perhaps the mystical boar would actually give her the strength to carry this blasted weapon back, or at least could lend her some good fortune in getting out of here undetected.

As she neared the exit, she walked faster, eager to get out of here. Rounding one of the last corners, she slammed headlong into a broad chest. Strong arms shot out to steady her, but she jumped backwards and leveled the weapon, forgetting to school her reaction and behave like a Boros nurse. Curse you, you fat ugly Raze-Boar, she thought, disgusted.

She examined the man standing before her. Tall, broad-chested, and remarkably square, the Boros soldier appeared to be human. Even his blond hair was cropped into a square shape, matching his chin and the angular lines of his face. He looked at her with confusion, taking in the nurse uniform and the large weapon in her hands, then her path toward the garrison’s auxiliary exit.

“Medic, what do you think you’re doing with that?” he asked, his voice a deep rumble.

Lilla stood rooted to the spot, her mind whirring while it tried to formulate a plan.

“Why don’t you just hand me that weapon and we’ll find your commanding officer so you can explain yourself,” he directed, his tone even as he extended a hand to take the weapon from her. Lilla realized his arms were almost as thick as the weapon as his hand closed around the barrel.

She felt it then, everything she sacrificed slipping away from her, taken by this armored asshole. Something flipped inside her, though to Lilla it felt more like reflex than anything. She crouched and braced herself, using one hand to fumble for an activation switch or button. Thank that smelly old Raze-Boar after all, she found it. She closed her eyes tight.

The weapon discharged a thinner beam this time, missing the legionnaire by inches and hitting the wall next to him. The force still knocked him back, and the blast of energy blew a hole in the wall, sending rocks and dust flying through the air. A large section of the masonry collapsed, pinning the man to the ground. Struggling to keep a grip on the weapon as mana surged through it, Lilla shut it off. The soldier lay on the floor, unconscious and trapped under a large rock.

Panting, Lilla leaned against the wall and stretched her legs for a moment. That was too close.

She realized more soldiers would respond to the noise of the weapon soon. She straightened, weapon still in her arms and turned, only to face a new obstacle behind her. She blinked, surprised. The buzzing drone in her ears muffled his footsteps; she didn’t hear him approaching.

Another Boros soldier galloped toward her, his helmet under one arm. His handsome brow furrowed in concern as he took in the situation. She looked him over from the top of his silky dark hair to the polished toes of his steel boots, taking in his piercing eyes, firm lips and strong chin, as well as his stoic build and well-oiled armor.

He stood a head taller than her; tall for a human. She steadied her breath as he jogged closer, his eyes kind and filled with concern as he looked at her. The look on his face seemed familiar, and it took her several heartbeats to realize why.

He looked at her the way her lover Jin did - before he’d been killed. Memories rushed back unbidden and Lilla scowled, looking away to hide her sudden tears. Jin’s death was in the past, along with his kindness and the way he made her feel. How dare this stranger remind her of her loss! She didn’t want to fight this man, but she would, whether he reminded her of Jin or not. She repressed her grief, focusing again on the task at hand. Some things were better left in the past. She needed to focus on what mattered; revenge.

She felt him draw close.

“Are you alright, miss?” the soldier asked, gently touching her shoulder. He glanced at the weapon in her arms, but made no move to take it. Lilla’s mind cleared. She would use this white knight to her advantage. She bit her lip and mustered the remnants of her tears.

The vedalken sniffled and nodded, clutching the weapon closer to her chest. It grew heavier with each passing moment. Glancing at the mizzium tank, she noticed it empty but slowly refilling. She remembered how the beam narrowed last time, and assumed the weapon may need time to recharge.

The man moved past her, kneeling beside his fallen comrade to make sure he still drew breath.

“What happened here?” the kind soldier asked, looking up at her on bended knee.

Lilla hesitated, suppressing her urge to flee. She needed to get out of the garrison before her disguise faded. This man didn’t question her nurse uniform, or her holding the weapon, but that would all change when she stood before him as a Gruul anarch. On the other hand, if she rushed this, she might attract his suspicion anyways.

When the pause felt long enough to be dramatic, she looked at the man under the rubble and blinked so a teardrop fell from her eye. “H-He asked for my help and then … h-he tried to-” she broke off with a convincing sob, hiding her face behind the bulky weapon clutched in her arms. “He tried to ... hurt me,” she stammered, making brief eye contact with the soldier then looking away, trying to seem awkward and succeeding.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the soldier’s lips and eyes compress into hard lines as he looked down at his unconscious comrade. Perfect.

“W-we were ordered to bring this to the f-frontline and he attacked me!” she cried, putting a bit of anger into her voice.

“I am so sorry, Miss. You get that to the frontline, and I’ll take this creep to the brig. I’ll put in a report to support you as well.”

Lilla smiled at him, almost revealing her satisfaction, then wiped her wet cheek on her shoulder. “Thank you,” she whispered, and he nodded, his gaze direct but soft. His expression hardened as he turned back to the unconscious soldier. He smacked the other man on the face until his eyes rolled open, then dragged him up off the floor, the larger man just conscious enough to help support his own weight.

Lilla sprang off down the hall, wanting to be long gone by the time the first man recovered his wits and they discovered her lies. Behind her, she could hear the handsome soldier berating the semi-conscious man.

“Come on, the brig’s the only place for scum. There’s no room in the Legion for rapists. I’ll see that you’re court-martialed. It’s scoundrels like you that give us a bad name!”

Whispering another thanks to the handsome soldier, Lilla hurried down the corridor and out the gate. She left the way she’d come in, running out the side gate.

As she passed, one of the guards called out to her gruffly, “Hey! What are you doing with that?”

Lilla ignored him, continuing to run. Behind her, she heard a weak call from the guard’s partner.

“Hey, wait!”

She didn’t stop until she reached the alley where she cast her disguise. Just as she cleared the corner, she felt her grip on the illusion slide away, and her disguise vanished. She set the weapon down for a moment then bent down with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

Twice they almost caught her, but here she stood. In a daring solo mission, she retrieved the weapon from the Legion garrison. She’d add a fight with the scientists when she retold it later, to keep the attention of her clanmates around the fire.

Lilla thought about curling up for a victory nap, but the continuing din of battle meant her fellows’ lives depended on bringing this weapon to Boulder Tooth, so he would call off his mad assault. Lilla scooped the weapon up again and pressed onward toward the command tent, running as fast as possible while carrying the weapon.

As she slunk past, it looked like the Gravel Hide still stood no chance of winning. Many fought with grievous injuries, and bodies started piling up on the ground before the ramparts. The Boros held their line, with their triage healers and nurses tending the wounded as the injuries rolled in, keeping their troops healthy and fighting strong. Shaking her head at the folly of the protracted siege, Lilla scurried back to the Gruul command tent to bring Boulder Tooth his coveted prize.

Lilla entered the command tent, only to find it as disorganized as the battlefield. She followed a trail of blood through the front flap, ignoring the stern looks of the sentries lounging outside. They’d heard her earlier reprimand, but must not realize the significance of the bulky metal object she held. She grimaced as the tent flap smeared blood in her hair, but she couldn’t avoid it with her arms full.

Inside the tent, the heated argument continued as Boulder Tooth, Rugilar, and a few other celebrated warriors ‘debated’ the best strategies to smash the Legion. Lilla cleared her throat. Everyone ignored her. She sighed, took a deep breath, and shouted over the fray.

“I GOT THE WEAPON!”

At first the shouting continued unabated, until Boulder Tooth did a double take at Lilla, his beady eyes glowing with insane hunger. He dashed across the room, dripping saliva as he went.

“Give it, give it!” he shrieked.

Lilla locked eyes with Boulder Tooth. The goblin’s diminutive stature belied his unparalleled cruelty. She could kill him and avenge her parents, right here. She lowered the weapon, pointing the barrel at him.

As she did, a sudden silence drew her attention; without moving her head she glanced around the tent. The bloodthirsty Gruul warriors, armed to the teeth and eager for a battle, almost dared her to shoot. Her palms sweating, she turned her attention back to Boulder Tooth.

Globs of spittle frothed at the corner of his mouth as he licked his lips and prepared to bite the weapon.

Disgusted by his fetish and the situation, Lilla hurled the Izzet weapon to the ground as hard as she could. It smashed into a hundred pieces at her feet, and everyone nearby staggered back a step or two at the shockwave of magical energy exploding outward. For his part, Boulder Tooth dove forward onto the pieces of the weapon he’d so badly wanted to gnash, glaring at Lilla for a half-second before going to work gnawing on the shattered components.

Boulder Tooth would live another day, but so would she.

From the back of the tent, a voice piped up, setting Lilla’s teeth on edge.

“Well, aren’t you just so heroic. What did you do, ask your little friends in the Legion to give it to you?”

Lilla glared at her rival Nianæ. She’d been making a lewd gesture of some kind. Before the vedalken could muster a comeback, Rugilar chimed in, his beady minotaur eyes casting Lilla in a light of speculation and suspicion.

“Maybe we can use that,” he started, grinning as he contemplated Lilla’s fate. “Clan Leader! It seems the blueskin has a talent for tricking Aurelia’s toy soldiers. She could make a good operative on the inside, to bring us more weapons and give us information to help our raids.” Rugilar phrased it like a question, but his tone encouraged Boulder Tooth, still in a mad frenzy, to give a tacit nod.

Rugilar bared his flat cow teeth in what passed for a broad smile and Lilla saw Nianæ smirking over his shoulder. He walked over to Lilla and punched her aching upper arm with a meaty fist.

“Well blueskin, pack your things. Looks like you’re joining the Legion.”