Skylands Legends

18.1 An Execution

The Sun Runner sped towards the academy, its blue domes now visible on the horizon. Jet Vac felt an anxious anticipation building up inside him. He was so close to finding a way to defeat the beast, he just knew it! All he needed was the King of Chaos to tell him how to use the dagger. And if the wolfman proved to be a struggle, Splat would bring Krankcase in on their secret – something Jet Vac would rather avoid if possible. The doctor's insanity made him a questionable ally at best.

Either way, Jet Vac did not think it would come to that. He had given some thought to what the Chaos King had said to him in their last meeting. There he had realized that the 'mad wolf' persona had all been a farce. A clever disguise to mask his true intelligence and deadly potential. But he had also opened up to him in a way that had been all too vulnerable. Jet Vac ran through the things he had said and had come to the conclusion that he was telling the truth.

Which, assuming he was right to trust the wolfman, likely meant that he would help them. They just needed no unnecessary complications between now and then.

Astroblast got them through the academy's energy shield without a problem and was quick to dock at the hangar.

Jet Vac and Splat swiftly left him to deal with the approaching mabu while they rushed away. Doors breezed past them as they strode down the academy's hallways. Rounding a corner, Jet Vac came to an abrupt halt, narrowly avoiding a collision with a passing mabu.

He took a quick step back and went to apologize when he recognized who was standing before him. It was Latch, the only Mabu Defense Force battalion leader to have survived the battle of Fizzland. The mabu brought his fist to his chest as a sign of respect, "Commander Jet Vac."

Jet Vac flashed Splat an annoyed look before returning the gesture. "General Latch. It is good to see you up and about."

"It is good to be moving again," he said. "Nothing makes a man more restless than being bed ridden while evil is afoot."

"I'm sure you are right," Jet Vac said, trying to move on from the conversation.

"I assure you I am." Latch continued. "I've talked to much of the Defense Force over the past few days while we had nothing to do, lying about in beds waiting for wounds to heal, and I found that most of them feel the same way as me – We want our revenge."

"As do us all." Splat bitterly interjected.

Latch looked at her like he had just noticed her for the first time. "Ah, Splat, I am very sorry for what happened back at Fizzland. And I feel just as bad for how I treated you prior to the battle. Allow me to apologize. I sincerely regret it."

"Yeah," She glanced up at Jet Vac briefly. "Things have changed now. I think it's best we put the past behind us and focus on our common enemy."

"Agreed," The mabu turned his attention back to him. "Me and my team will be ready when called upon."

"Good," Jet Vac muttered, his patience finally wearing thin. He pushed past the mabu and continued on down the hallway. He heard Splat mutter a light apology before following. Latch giving them a weird look as they rushed away.

*******

King Pen strode down the Great Hall of Winter Keep. The icy white pillars passed by in a blur. He barely noticed the guards and soldiers saluting him as he approached the Winter Throne. He stopped just short of the dais and knelt down on one knee, bowing his head to look at the marble floor.

He waited like that a few seconds before feeling the temperature drop a few degrees, indicating that he should rise once more. He stood up and faced the Empress of Ice as she sat menacingly upon the Throne of Winter. "Your Grace. I await to serve."