Embedded in the mountain base, Ul’thetos’ prison gleamed. If not for the flesh that poured from the lower levels, the facility would be untouched.

Atop the mountain, Camellia saw a smaller building. In fact, several small buildings dotted the surrounding mountains. Wires reached between the buildings and converged on the prison below. Camellia wondered what they might be, but she didn’t ask. Other elements of the scenery drew her attention.

Camellia shaded her eyes and squinted. At the edge of the mountains, she spotted a giant orb. It hovered in the sky. “What is that?”

“I believe that’s the storm generator. I’ve seen photographs and schematics, but I’ve never seen it in person.” Eva stared at the orb too.

“Are you sure that’s the prison?” Adalhard asked.

Camellia gazed at the facility, a place that could be called both Ul’thetos’ home and prison. “Yes, it just feels right, like a memory. A second-hand memory of course.”

“Looks like fucking paradise over there.” Meladee made a visor with her hands and stared. “Cold. High up. Creature-free. You guys should have lived there, but I guess it would be impossible to reach over that ocean of flesh.”

Eva frowned.

Camellia took her eyes from the distant building and searched the ground. Far below the concrete dome, thick, red flesh burbled. Young and vigorous, it flowed around a smattering of ancient pines and parted around the animatronic jungle.

“There’s nowhere to step,” Adalhard said. “I don’t see how we can cross this place.”

Camellia pondered the timeline of Lurren’s demise. Ul’thetos had only recently escaped because Eva had visited the jungle when she was younger. Eva would have seen flesh like this. Yet, all those years ago, was it possible to look outside the jungle’s dome? The interior was always intended to be dark, and Camellia had seen no windows. Did Ul’thetos gain power much sooner than Eva realized? Did the creature grow, unbeknownst to the majority of the population? Camellia could question Eva over and over and never really know. Eva had lost memories, and the exact timeline of how Ul’thetos seized its power was lost.

Adalhard swept his hand over the ground below. “The pine trees poke above the flesh. If there were enough of them, we could...but there aren’t.”

Meladee snapped her fingers. “A boat. Sail the red seas.”

Benham looked down. “Maybe we can find a boat in the jungle.”

“I would feel more comfortable flying,” Sten said. “And, before you point out that Ul’thetos would spot and capture us, I will counter with an observation. These are the bases of the tentacles. The shoulders so to speak. We are close enough that we could fly to the facility, and the creature might miss its chance to reach us.” Sten looked around the group. “Inside the jungle, I saw a flying beast. Large enough to carry all of us. We could capt...”

Eva shook her head. “That won’t work. Even if we could fix their programming, I’m not sure that’s the problem. Ul’thetos affected parts of the animatronics that I don’t think we can touch. They’ve gone insane.”

Sten stared at Eva for a while and seemed to smile. Eva didn’t return the smile, but she gazed at Sten with...gratitude, maybe?

Camellia got the impression that more went on behind their words.

“I got it,” Meladee said. “We just move all of this stuff aside. Look there’s a seam right down the middle.” She pointed at a line that ran from containment facility to the jungle. “That’s kind of where it folds its arms together...I guess.”

Benham looked. “Yeah, so what? How do we part it?”

“Concrete men.” Meladee reached inside her bag.

“Concrete is man-made,” Eva said. “Your bell hasn’t been designed to work on concrete.”

“I know that.” Meladee huffed. “But, I could make a version of the spell that works on concrete.”

Camellia frowned. “How? You’ve always said you had to be bearded and wise to do that.”

“To make the bell, yeah, that’s true. To update the bell, definitely. To make a similar spell, not so much.” Meladee shook her head.

“You should have done that a number of places,” Eva growled.

“Yeah, I know. Problem was...I didn’t think I could.” Meladee removed a paper from her bag.

Camellia glimpsed neat spellwork. She craned her neck to see more, but Meladee titled the page up to study it.

Meladee said, “When I first met you guys, the most complicated spell I knew prevented people from stealing my stuff. Everything else was the same old magic I’d been doing for fifteen years. The stuff a mage can do alone. It’s good stuff, and I’m a good mage. But I could be better.” Meladee paused. “You see, between all that bomb making, Volanter spell craft, and riddles about Agaric magic, I can see that I don’t do as much with magic as I could. There are a lot of mages doing more I ever did, and some of them are younger than me.” Meladee jabbed the paper. “I made this during our down time. I made the decay spell work. I can make this one work.”

Camellia met Meladee’s eyes and, with some degree of pride, regarded her friend. In their time together, Meladee had learned more and more complicated spellwork. She broadened her knowledge, and she did most of it without even realizing. Meladee grew uncomfortable under Camellia’s regard and turned her eyes to Eva. Eva wore a small smile and the same look of pride.

Meladee looked down at her spell. “Oh, only one problem. I have to maintain this spell. It’ll fade if I just let it go.”

“So that means…?” Camellia asked.

“It’s not a spell you cast, dust off your hands, and say well that’s that. Instead, it’s more of a long-term concentration thing. I can do it, but I’d probably have to stay up high and in view of the whole expanse.” Meladee mimicked Adalhard’s sweeping motion, with added drama.

“Alright, do it.” Eva nodded once. “It’s the best plan we have. I don’t like that it separates us, but you can take us right to the door. We won’t have to cut our way through.”

With a nod, the group members agreed.

Benham said, “If you don’t mind, I’ll stay up here with her.”

“It doesn’t bother me. Frankly, someone should stay,” Eva agreed.

Camellia wanted to hug Meladee goodbye, but Meladee already worked on her spell. Meladee set the paper on the concrete and stood upon it, to keep it from the wind.

Eva held up her com. “If I call you, send for help.”

Benham nodded.

Meladee stood straight, glanced down at the page, and then closed her eyes. “I’ll take the men from the side of the dome, and you guys can crawl down in the body-shaped holes they leave.” Meladee went silent.

The magic circle appeared and hummed. It sounded a little like a ringing bell. Tremors moved through the concrete, and an army pulled itself from the walls.

Camellia peered over the edge, and Adalhard held her arm. She didn’t mind. It allowed her to scoot further out. She watched as concrete men wriggled out of their places and hopped to the ground. They landed atop the flesh and slowly squished themselves into the fold. More and more of them gathered, and disappeared between the tentacles.

The ground rumbled gently. Adalhard pulled Camellia back, and she let him. From where she stood, she could see the men work as they began to push the flesh back, rolling it up onto itself. When the sound of the spell dissipated, thousands of concrete soldiers parted the first leg of their journey, but more flesh sprawled ahead.

Meladee kept her eyes closed. “I need to leave some in reserve, just in case. So, we’ll work with this group. I’ll move them down the line as you move. Go ahead.” She waved them on.

Benham waited by Meladee’s side, with his gun out.

Camellia called, “Thank you, Meladee.”

“Yes, I second that thanks.” Eva hopped down into one body shaped hole.

Adalhard and Sten gestured for Camellia to precede them. She nodded and scooted into the first hole. Camellia followed Eva’s path. She copied her friends’ foot and handholds.

The sun still shone, and Camellia felt a bit weak. But, thankfully, the dome curved down at a gentler slope than she’d known. She looked up. Sten and Adalhard started down, with Sten headed first and Adalhard copying his moves.

Camellia could no longer see Meladee. She wished she’d had a chance to tell Meladee just how happy she was to have her friendship.

At the base of the dome, concrete men held the ocean of flesh at bay. They climbed atop each others shoulders, creating pillars of people, to roll back the flesh.

Camellia hopped the last step to the ground and landed beside Eva.

“We’re almost done with this whole...adventure,” Camellia said.

“Almost.” Eva gave Camellia a single nod.

As soon as the men joined them, Eva set the pace. Sten and Adalhard each carried the bombs. Camellia stayed in the rear and clutched her handkerchief.

She watched the concrete men. For the first leg of their journey, the men stayed steady, and Camellia felt like a woman in a dream, walking through some strange architecture. Standing atop each other’s shoulders, the men seemed like pillars, and the red flesh between looked like curtains of thick, juicy velvet.

For a very short moment, Camellia wondered how the blood of Ul’thetos might taste.

As they came to the last pillar of men, Eva raised her com and called, “We’re ready to move forward.”

Camellia turned and watched as the concrete men, still atop each other’s shoulders, released the flesh. They remained in their towers and walked forwards. They cleared the flesh ahead. They opened up the next leg of the journey. In this way, the men traveled along with the team of four, moving the flesh ahead of the path and letting it close behind.

Inside the strange tunnel, Camellia heard flesh squelch. She heard rustling needles as breezes blew through the ancient, ensconced pines. Within an hour, they arrived at the facility, tired but unable to rest.

“Can you two go on?” Sten asked.

Adalhard nodded. “I’ve made some long, sleepless treks before. Frankly, I’m a bit worried about Camellia.”

“I can do it. But, let’s pause. I want to talk to Ul’thetos,” she said.

Everyone stared at her.

“We’re supposed to be sneaking in.” Adalhard gave her a pointed look. “That’s why Rooks and the others are staging a fight. They could be dying for this.”

“Yes, but Ul’thetos is bound to know we’re here now. We just moved tons of her flesh to reach this place. She knows. We should see what she has to say. Maybe, our friends will be spared from dying if Ul’thetos knows that we’re here now.” Camellia held her handkerchief out to Eva.

Adalhard frowned. “This is too close. It’ll overwhelm you.”

Eva didn’t take the handkerchief.

“We have to know what she’s up to. It’s a big building. Maybe, I can get directions.” Again, Camellia tried to give the handkerchief to Eva.

Adalhard held up a hand. “Wait. I almost forgot. Take this.” He handed her a different handkerchief.

Camellia took it and viewed the cloth. Embroidered in shining thread, she saw only half the protection circle. “What is this?”

“It’s a half-strength handkerchief. I got it from Inez and Eder. I forgot all about it.”

Camellia held it to her breast. “Thank you. This will help a lot.” She handed Adalhard her full-strength handkerchief and walked a few paces.

Eva and Sten got to work on the door.

To Ul’thetos, Camellia called, I’m here. Be gentle or this conversation will be short.

Gentle, it whispered. The word was soft as were the images flowing from Ul’thetos’ mind.

Camellia saw the distant battle with Rooks and how many thralls the creature had lost in its rage. The battle slowed and stopped and restarted again, running through the cycle of a siege. Through Ul’thetos’ eyes, Camellia peered in the windows and saw the ships, beautiful works of art. But, it was Rooks and her crew that interested Camellia more. They were harder to discern among the rubble.

Finally, Ul’thetos visualized their game – set out over a board of the creature’s design, a mix between Lurren and the shape of their minds. You win. I thought you came only for ships, but I find you here. Congratulations, you win. Now, find me. Beware the guard.

Guard?

Yes, synthetic.

Okay. I have a surprise for you, Camellia promised. She braced herself for an intrusion.

It didn’t come.

And, I have a surprise for you. By the way, did you solve the puzzle? Ul’thetos’ whisper died away into a soft chuckle, and it barred its secrets from her.

Camellia also guarded her mind. She crossed the barren soil to Adalhard’s side and reclaimed her handkerchief.

She thought of Ul’thetos’ puzzle, but she still didn’t understand the importance of the pattern’s asymmetry. They’d come to kill Ul’thetos, but a part of Camellia just wanted to know.

“Are you alright?” Adalhard asked.

Camellia nodded. “Rooks and her people are safe. Well, as safe as they can be. They’re under siege. Ul’thetos is happy that we’re here, and she warns us to beware the facility’s guard.”

“That’s oddly civil of it,” Adalhard said.

Camellia agreed, “Yes, it was a good conversation. Oh, except for the part about Ul’thetos’ surprise. She has a surprise for us, which of course she wouldn’t give any details about.”

“Wonderful.” Adalhard shook his head. “Camellia, I want you to be careful. Please.”

Camellia sighed. “Florian. I can only be so careful in an apocalyptic landscape ruled by a continent sized monster.”

The door snapped open.

Eva hurried everyone inside. “Go. Go. I’m not sure how long this will stay open.”

Camellia and Adalhard ran through.

The entire team of four stood in a dark lobby, bombs in tow. The door closed behind them. Little blue lights lined the paths, but they were the only light.

Eva strode to the door. “Security insists this door stays closed. Wait a moment. I need to call Meladee and let her know we’re in.” Eva held her com and made several attempts to call their mage.

None got through.

Camellia’s heart beat fast. “Why doesn’t she answer?

“There’s shielding around the building,” Sten said. “Benham probably saw us go inside.”

“Low lighting.” Adalhard pointed at the blue lights.

“Emergency lights.” Sten approached one. “I’m surprised they’re still functioning. The energy sources must be renewable.”

Camellia studied the lobby. She could see everything in the low light – a reception desk of fine stone, a small seating area, also of stone, and a stairway that led up into darkness.

“We need to go up. Come on.” Eva ascended, not waiting for her friends.

“What about the guard?” Camellia took tentative steps up.

“That would be security.” Eva said, without stopping. “It’s best if we move quickly. I think I have some idea of what serves as security around this place.”

Camellia crested the top of the stairs. Adalhard and Sten joined her.

Eva stood in another darkened reception room with no windows, only more emergency lights. The bigger room offered more seats of stone.

Camellia looked closer. She saw no crevices in the stonework, as if the entire room had been hewn of one slab. Curious. To prevent infection?

Eva crossed to a computer terminal and entered a command. The screen shimmered and rippled with age, but the display worked.

Eva tapped at the keys. “I have no access, probably because I have no id and don’t work here.”

“Maybe, we can find an old ID,” Sten said.

“Or, maybe I can get hired.” Eva left the terminal and pointed to two doors on either side of the reception. “Which one?”

Adalhard and Camellia each crossed to a door.

“No labels.” Adalhard ran his hand over smooth metal. “Open them. Whichever one leads down is probably our door.”

Eva approached Adalhard’s door and placed two hands in the small crevice. She tried to pry open the unlabeled portal.

On the other side, Sten assisted Camellia. Their door parted a crack.

“Ah, a sign!” Camellia looked through and read: “Cafeteria. Welcome lounge. Medical.”

Sten let go and the door snap shut. He shook his hands.

“Must be Adalhard’s way.” Camellia didn’t think food or sick people would be kept anywhere near Ul’thetos.

In hushed tones, Sten and Eva discussed the locked door. Sten could not pull it apart. Together, they could not pull it apart.

While the synthetics talked, Camellia looked at the terminal. It lit up. She exchanged a glance with Adalhard.

Camellia worked out her translation first. “State your business.”

Eva whirled. “What?”

Camellia just pointed at the terminal.

“I think security wants to communicate with us,” Adalhard said.

Eva walked to the terminal and put her hands on the keyboard. She typed: We’re here to destroy the creature.

That is impossible. Therefore, you lie. Liars all inevitably try to free the creature. Those who seek to free the creature are criminals. You will remain where you are for processing.

“Oh, that’s concerning.” Camellia glanced side to side.

How are you functioning? Eva typed back

Sten began to cut the door, and Adalhard moved to assist.

Eva continued to type. With your proximity to the creature, how can we be sure you aren’t infected?

I am not close to the creature. Security is offsite, and you will not be informed of the location. Know that I am outside the creature’s influence. I am not infected. You have yet to prove you aren’t.

We’re from outside Lurren. Eva’s words lit up on the screen.

The guard answered even faster. Impossible. The weather orb still functions.

No, we shut it off. Check.

The cut door dropped to the floor, and Camellia jumped. She turned away from the terminal and followed Sten and Adahard. Both men entered a quiet, dark hall, shot through with little blue emergency lights. Camellia grew tired of the lighting scheme and its bottom up glow.

“Eva is still talking to the guard,” Camellia said. “But, it doesn’t look good.”

Sten peeked outside the door. “Eva, we’re in. What does security say?”

Eva read: “You have disabled the weather orb and breached the first door. I am coming.”

Eva rounded the corner and joined her friends in the hall.

“So, security will pay us a visit. How?” Sten waved Camellia and Adalhard on.

Adalhard took Camellia’s hand and guided her into the corridor. Camellia kept her ears attuned to Eva and Sten’s conversation. So far, Eva had no answer to Sten’s question.

Sten prompted again, “Eva? Can the security system control our air, temperature, or exits? If so, that will be a problem for our friends.”

“Don’t worry. It doesn’t plan to suffocate us. This type of security has a different view of how things should be done.” Eva drew her gun and staff. “A long time ago, I met a similar AI, probably the same program. It has a strong preference for using combat robots.”

“Combat…?” Sten’s voice trailed off.

Camellia looked back. Sten and Eva had not followed at all.

Camellia called, “Are you coming?”

Eva shook her head. “Go. We have some fighting to do. Give her the bomb.” Eva gestured for Sten to give up his burden.

He shrugged out of the harness. Eva grabbed the box, set it on the floor, and slid it to Camellia.

“Go,” Eva ordered.

Camellia couldn’t look away. She didn’t want to go deeper into this Lurrien facility without Eva. Still, she bent and picked up the crate. Camellia didn’t bother to put it on her back. She just held the large box in both hands.

Adalhard gently tugged on Camellia’s wrist. He put his head close to hers. “Come on.”

Camellia glanced once more at Eva and turned away.

Adalhard and she hurried down a long corridor. They turned at the only bend and followed the same hall through another bend and another. No corridors branched from the main one, and Camellia saw only one door.

“I think we’re walking in a loop – a square to be most precise.” Adalhard ran frustrated fingers through his hair. He pointed down the new hall. “This way will definitely lead us back to Eva and Sten. I saw only the one door. What about you?”

Camellia thought back to their walk around the box. The square corridor had been longer than she expected, and she had seen that door on what could be termed the back of the square. Something about the place felt familiar.

“That door is it.” Camellia turned and began to walk back down the hall. “Inside, we’ll find the room with the catwalks.” Camellia hurried her pace.

Adalhard kept up. “Camellia, this place is pristine. I think we might have a bit more of a walk to get to the right room, probably belowground. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that door led to an elevator, one like the Bardiche has.”

Camellia couldn’t deny that they saw no sign of flesh. Still, she recognized the place. “This is the right place. There won’t be an elevator. Ul’thetos is in there. We don’t see any flesh because Ul’thetos doesn’t want her arms in her head space.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Adalhard agreed. “I”ll trust you, but don’t be disappointed if we have to walk a bit farther.”

Camellia wouldn’t be disappointed because she would be right.