In the chaos of the flooded chamber, I could barely understand which way was up. The light cast from Isbrand’s Incarnum was muted and blurry in the swirling torrent around us. I couldn’t even see Odarask anymore. I desperately hoped the creature had succumbed to a lack of oxygen. We needed every advantage we could if we were going to pull off this miracle.

  Isbrand, we’ve got to get higher before the building drops out of the lower city! I thought to him.

  Where’s the fastest route up? I’ll dig through the fucking ceiling if I have to! Isbrand declared.

  Get back to the ROVER in the tunnel. The path up to the main floor should still be there! I exclaimed.

  Isbrand dug his remaining limbs into the ground and started for the tunnel. We had to hope there was still a tunnel at all. Our scans of the area were useless now. I was in Isbrand’s hands.

  We moved through the flooded chamber, crawling along the floor and across shifting debris. The water felt like it was circling around us, a massive current whirling in an unending dance within the brood chamber. Isbrand was being battered by loose building pieces, fleshy globs of Orgiastic hive material, and ruined equipment from Trevelli’s mad experiments. A snapped metal beam careened out of the darkness and slammed into Isbrand, nearly knocking him loose from his hold on the ground. I thought we were going to be swept away in the current. Isbrand held on with a single one of his auxiliary limbs. Warnings flashed in my vision of his arm’s impending destruction.

  We’re almost there, Isbrand! The tunnel should be just ahead! I thought desperately.

  Isbrand strained, pulling himself back to the ground and latching on. He wasn’t ready to give up yet. His drive, his will to push through, and perhaps his pride wouldn’t allow it. I watched in awe of his refusal to quit.

  We pressed forward through the darkness. Our light spilled over the lip of the tunnel entrance, and I could see the light from the ROVER platform in the distance. Hope sparked in my heart once more as Isbrand pulled us into the tunnel and out of the current.

  The walls around us began to shake violently. We were nearly through the city’s lower levels, which were continuously built in layers. Old structures were left to break down, rot, and become raw materials for repurposing. The path might have been clear during the initial shot down to the Gravesea, but now we were breaking through every decrepit sub-level the city had forgotten about ages ago. We were going to be crushed if we didn’t reach the ROVER.

  Isbrand rushed forth, tearing into the floor like an animal to gain as much ground toward the platform as possible. The light dangled ahead of us like a promise. With one more mighty push through the water, we landed on the platform, sprawled out like a dead man.

  I had been waiting for the moment we reached it. I sent the mental command to the ROVER as quickly as I could manage. The platform started to rise. Above us, the ROVER’s mechanical pillars sent up more cutting wires to keep the path clear. I felt like we had made it.

  Then, the platform ground to a sudden, screeching halt.

  We both looked around, trying to understand what was happening. I saw a black, armored hand gripping the edge of the platform. Odarask had followed us. I tried to warn Isbrand, but it came too late. The Seneschal pulled itself up onto the platform and crashed into Isbrand. It was trying to knock him off. Isbrand caught one of the pillars, holding on for dear life. Odarask was climbing to his feet now, ready to advance on us. Isbrand scrambled back onto the platform only to be pinned to it by the crushing force of Odarask’s foot. He perched above us, coiling to strike down with his horn. Isbrand raised his remaining slender arms to mitigate the blow as best he could. Odarask brought his horn down like a sledgehammer, crushing through Isbrand’s attempt at defense. The horn slammed into Isbrand’s chest next but didn’t manage to pierce through. Enough of the force had been wasted destroying his arms. Odarask reared back again, holding his horn aloft to deliver the finishing blow.

  I had to do something to save Isbrand. I had to do something to save us both!

  I sent a mental command to the ROVER, which turned the cutting wires down toward us. The bright white lines flashed through the water toward the Seneschal. His horn, head, and shoulders turned into an ugly black-red mince that was quickly swept away in the water rushing around us. What was left of Odarask tumbled aside and fell off the platform into the shadows below.

  I stopped the wires with another command, setting them back to clearing our path upwards.

  We lay in silence on the platform, just happy to be alive.

  An awful crashing sound robbed us of our short rest.

  What was that?! Isbrand asked.

  The building must have punched through the sub-level. I answered.

  Next time you try to improvise, warn me first. Isbrand thought.

  Why don’t I get to have the same fun you do? I asked.

  Because you’re an entirely different level of insane, Elias. Isbrand explained.

  Yes. You’re probably right. I agreed.

  “Do you have the Stringer attached to him or not, Ludo?!” Hayward shouted above the noise of the Dice personnel carrier he was flying.

  “Yeah, man, don’t fry a synapse on me! I’ve got the little guy in place. My footage angles are slipshod, though. Can’t see shit through the water, either! I’m already bleeding viewers!” Ludo replied, leaning over Hayward’s chair.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “I don’t give a fuck, just keep the tracking coordinates on target. We won’t have long to try fishing him out before he sinks too far!” Hayward said. He navigated the bulky carrier through ever-shrinking corridors of the lower city levels. Flying down here was as dangerous as it got. This fact was punctuated when the carrier’s wing scraped against the rotting wall of a nearby building.

  “Fuck! Be careful! You trying to flat-line us?!” Ludo demanded. He gripped Hayward’s chair with white knuckles.

  “I’ve got it, stop bitching!” Hayward dismissed. They were nearly out of lower levels. Ahead was a much wider garbage port for the city’s waste. The carrier quickly passed through, emerging into the open air under the city. Above them was an expanse of metal and glowing engines that stretched farther than the eye could see in every direction. Below was the roiling dark surface of the Gravesea, an equally endless ocean of abyssal green water.

  “I’ve never been down here…” Ludo muttered, staring out the cockpit window. “The shots I could get would be singular.”

  “Hey, tighten up! You’re on my time right now,” Hayward reminded him.

  “Yeah, of course. My fault. We’re not far from where the tracker is moving,” Ludo said, regaining focus.

  “We’ve got to get close, but not enough to get caught in the wreckage from the fall. Hang on, I’m taking us down to the water level,” Hayward explained. He began a careful descent toward the Gravesea. Flying too close to the water risked getting them swept down by an errant wave. Hayward found a comfortable distance from the Gravesea and the projected crash site and hovered there.

  “Alright, I will be plugged into the HOOK and waiting to go after him. Ping me if anything happens,” Hayward instructed.

  “Plugged into a hook, sure, man… Uh, what’s a hook again? You know, for the viewers at home,” Ludo asked.

  “Not a hook; the HOOK. It’s the hovercraft object operation kit. Just keep an eye out for anything happening.” Hayward said, rolling his eyes.

  “Loud and clear, boss man,” Ludo spoke as he gave a crooked salute to the Sergeant.

  Hayward considered addressing Ludo’s irksome personality with him but ultimately decided against it. He needed to focus on the task at hand. Hayward took the connection cable hanging from the ceiling above his chair. He inserted it into the port on his forearm. After a short delay, Hayward took control of the carrier’s HOOK and extended the apparatus toward the Gravesea. He closed his eyes to focus his vision through the HOOK’s sensors. Hayward wanted to be dialed in and ready to make his play when the opportunity came.

  Above the roaring sound of the dead ocean beneath came a deafening crash. Ludo’s gaze shot upward as the mangled structure of the Trevelli building tore its way out of the city’s underbelly. A great shower of debris exploded toward the Gravesea ahead of it. Ludo stared in stunned silence as the massive cylinder plummeted through the air. The building struck the water, causing a colossal splash. The spray went far enough to douse the carrier in seawater. The shock of it was enough to break Ludo from his stupor.

  “Oh shit, the tracker!” Ludo exclaimed, lowering the visor of his helmet and checking his connection to the stringer. The signal was faint, but he could still send the data to Hayward.

  “The feed’s trash, but we’ve got a lock! Go get him, boss man!” Ludo shouted excitedly.

  Hayward was already moving the HOOK down into the Gravesea. Once Ludo fed him the tracker coordinates, he adjusted his approach. The clawed appendage plunged into the dark waters, rushing toward the area from which the signal was coming. He navigated the HOOK around the field of debris that spread from the initial crash. If he got hung up on anything too heavy, the entire carrier could be dragged under in an instant.

  Hayward saw something in the distance as he approached the tracker’s signal. An unmistakable, pulsing red glow shone in the darkness ahead of him. He reached out with the HOOK and clamped the claws into the shattered remains of Caldburn’s Incarnum. He used the HOOK’s proximity to initiate a call with the Dealer.

  Caldburn? This is Hayward. You still alive in there?! Hayward’s thoughts were broadcast to the Incarnum.

  Yes, Sergeant. I’m alive. Elias answered.

  Fuck yes! Alright. Hang tight; I’m dragging you back up to the carrier now! Hayward announced.

  Is Livia alright, Sergeant? Elias asked.

  Yeah, she’s fine. She’s with the Dice medics right now. Hayward explained.

  I’d hoped I was right about you, Sergeant. It seems my trust was not misplaced. Elias thought.

  What are you talking about Caldburn? What trust? Hayward asked.

  I had to trust you would get Livia to safety, that you wanted your kudos enough to attempt a rescue after I flooded the building, and that you were capable of it all. Elias answered.

  You flooded the building on purpose?! Hayward confirmed.

  Yes, it was a risk I was forced to take. At the very least, I’ve eradicated the Orgiastics. Elias explained.

  Has anyone ever told you that you’re fucking crazy, Caldburn? Hayward asked

  It seems to be happening more often as of late. Elias admitted.

  Hayward didn’t even know where to begin with this guy. He focused instead on getting him back to the carrier safely. It wasn’t long before the remains of the Incarnum broke the surface of the water. Hayward took a moment to open the side doors of the carrier before depositing Elias inside the craft. Hayward opened his eyes and disengaged from the HOOK controls before checking on Elias. Ludo followed closely behind him, looking particularly excitable.

  “Welcome aboard, Caldburn. You look like boiled shit,” Hayward said, standing over the remains of the Incarnum.

  Elias’ egg projection appeared, floating closely above the Incarnum. “I think I am due for some repairs.”

  “Hey, man, hi, I’m Ludo. Ludo Buglass. I helped the boss man here find you. I was hoping I could get an interview. People are chomping at the bit for more deets on you, man! Everybody wants to know Pritch the Bitch’s new partner!” Ludo announced, stepping around Hayward.

  “I… Uh. I’m not sure about that, Mr. Buglass,” Elias said.

  “For fuck’s sake, Ludo, he’s not in any condition for that right now!” Hayward declared, glaring at Ludo.

  “Shit. Sorry, man, real sorry. I’m just so coiled to talk with you, man! This is the best fucking footage I’ve gotten in a long time. You and the Bitch down there, back to back, fighting off those Imps. It was stellar, man, completely preem,” Ludo gushed.

  Elias was quiet for a bit longer than felt normal before he spoke. “Alright, don’t blow a synapse, buddo. Give me time to recover, and we’ll sit down to schmooze. I got your name; I know who to look for.”

  “That’s great, man! Just make sure we keep it exclusive. I wanna break all this to my feeds first, man!” Ludo explained.

  “Sounds like we got a date. I’ll see if Pritch wants to tag along,” Elias said.

  “Really?! You’d do that?!” Ludo asked.

  “Sure, why not? You just said you helped find me. It’s the least I can do,” Elias answered.

  “Oh, you’re not gonna regret this, man, I promise. This feed is going to burn across the wire!” Ludo promised.

  “For now, I’m just gonna lay here for a while. I’m fucking beat,” Elias muttered; the small egg projection flickered briefly before blinking out.

  “Of course, man, you rest up,” Ludo said, turning to Hayward and throwing up his thumbs. “Let’s fucking go, boss man. This is my biggest score, well, ever!”

  “I’m real happy for you, Ludo. You did help enough to deserve the credit,” Hayward spoke earnestly.

  “Just doing my duty as a good denizen, man. I’ll help out Dice any time,” Ludo assured.

  “Careful, Ludo, you don’t know what kind of deal you’re offering,” Hayward warned mildly and returned to the cockpit.

  Hayward was partway through the flight back to the city when he received an update from his personal accounts.

  He was now fifty-thousand kudos richer.

  Hayward smirked and thought about his girls and the private island waiting for him.