Erd hoped his previous command was still in effect. He was sure the creature hadn’t told him all the mental tricks it had been trained in, so the compulsion should still apply.

He said, “So, help us escape without casualities, using the normal definition of escape.”

After that last bit of vulgar sorcery, he felt a pang of omnipresent pain. He was done with vulgar sorcery for today. He could not quite tell if the pain was in his head or in his body, it seemed to be everywhere at once. After a few moments it faded a bit. He could probably do most normal physical activities almost as well as usual.

Yet now he would need to think.

Hammer suggested gently, “Would it help if we held you hostage?”

The creature replied, “No. If you kill me my debts would be repaid and my family would get something extra, but I have been taught to regard myself as expendable if I don’t persuade you to surrender.”

That did not sound good, especially through the pounding in Erd’s head.

Surprisingly it said next, “First let’s disable the listening devices.”

It pointed out several hidden in the wall for Buzz and Hammer to blast with enthusiasm, while disabling a couple in the console itself. That had to be a good sign. It was really planning how to help them escape, even if it resented them on some level.

The Flutterer added, “The guards don’t like to wear the protective suits and helmets they are supposed to, and discipline is lax. Poison gas combined with smoke to obscure visibility might help. They are Ursinoids.”

It seemed his sorcery was working, the creature really did feel a compulsion to help them escape. It hadn’t managed to redefine ‘escape’ internally, for instance as escape from the trials and tribulations of life.

Hopefully.

Buzz produced three lightweight plastic masks from his pack, and Hammer pulled out several kinds of gas grenades. Things were starting to look up a little.

Perhaps after an internal struggle, the Flutterer said more. “I will function as a decoy.”

Hammer said, “You realize that if you were to double cross us –”

The other replied sharply, “I will help you escape as best I can because I must.”

Through the haze of pain in his brain, Erd wondered if that were really so. Sorcery could be a slippery and treacherous tool.

The masks were very nice though. They included noise canceling earphones, so perhaps sound would be part of the distraction. He had his own air supply. Before his eyes was a heads up display showing an outline of the room with red lines. The three mask wearers were represented as blue stick figures. A thick purple line lead to the reinforced doors.

Buzz explained, “We don’t have much time to plan here, so I’ll make it quick. We follow the purple path to the portal, which the other team should have hacked and will be holding for us.”

There was no time wasted on what they would do if all that had not gone as planned. They would be screwed.

Buzz continued, “When we shove open the door Hammer and I will throw smoke and fog grenades out, which will impede vision and electronic communications (except between our masks, which are specially networked), but not impede breathing or cause respiratory distress. Our new associate will pass over the heads of our new acquaintances and start making loud noises from behind them. There are individuals who can teleport for short distances, so hopefully this will cause great confusion.

“After a few more seconds we throw the other gas grenades and start running, so our new associate will need to move fast. Erd, you have the least training and equipment for combat. Just follow the purple line. Don’t stop moving or go back. If you do Hammer or I will assume you’ve been detained or injured and try to help.

“If at all possible, evade the guards and run through them rather than trying to stun or kill them all. The masks will try to represent them in pink, but the system is imperfect.”

The Flutterer chimed in, “The best time to shove open the doors is when Pushy says ‘five’. If he doesn’t seem like he’s going to count down from five, try and move just a few seconds before he does.”

Erd raised a brow. “You sound almost happy.”

The Flutterer made a complex gesture which vaguely resembled a shrug, though involving more of its body. “Well, you’re obviously a very good sorcerer, so this isn’t my fault. And I’ve told Pushy again and again that he and his troops should be wearing the suits and helmets, but no.”

Perhaps it resented others who had controlled and manipulated it longer than Erd. Perhaps.

The voice came from all around them again. “We seem to have lost audio contact. You must signal your surrender by walking out the door immediately. Open it slowly and walk out one by one, slowly, with your hands in the air. Our employee should come out last. You must come out before my countdown reaches zero or you will have lost your opportunity to surrender.

“Five. Fo-”

In accordance with the Flutterer’s suggestion, Slammer shoved the doors open, breaking the pneumatic hinges as he used his weight to force it open faster. Through his mask, Erd saw wavy symbols that presumably denoted smoke as the others made throwing motions. The Flutterer flew over their heads into the corridor, showing commendable maneuverability for indoor flying. After a few seconds it began making loud noises, but no verbal ones. It could well have been a team of three mercenaries which had somehow teleported past their guards.

His two partners threw some more grenades. The ensuing noises might have been coughing and retching. Erd ran as instructed, wondering if he was a coward for doing exactly what he’d been told to do. But the HUD showed the other figures start to move behind him. It was a good think he had it, because other than the bright lines on the HUD, nothing but smoke was visible through the mask.

The doubled over figure should not have been a threat. He assumed it was coughing and gasping without a mask, and blinded by smoke. It blundered in his direction, perhaps hearing footsteps or feeling the vibrations as Erd’s heavy figure pounded nearer.

But thanks to the HUD, Erd was ready for the exact moment and angle of the collision. He managed to shove the guard directly into another one, taking them both out of the path of the two teammates behind him.

He ran on, and found the smoke clearing away, his ordinary vision functioning once again. It was probably only a few moments until he reached the lift – which he had no ability to summon. And he could hardly go anywhere without his companions, but just standing there felt wrong. Where could he at least hide?

He whirled around fearfully at the sound of footsteps – and saw Buzz and Hammer running up behind him. He ground his teeth in annoyance at himself – the HUD showed them as friendly. He should have known.

Buzz summoned the lift while Hammer tossed a last pair of grenades down the corridor behind them. The three of them all crowded in.

If the other half of their team had done its job, the portal would be hacked and lead directly to Sargon’s island. They could be safely off this world in a couple of minutes.

When the lift doors opened, Erd’s face went slack with horror. He heard the sounds of both gun and blaster fire. Their hacker team was under attack.