Nix Terra

Fall - 11

 Lavender's knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip on the phone. "Gesly? As in-"

"Corey Gesly's wife." The woman's voice finished Lavender's sentence. "My husband told me to contact you if anything went wrong, and things have indeed gone wrong."

"Is it the Agents of D.C.?" Lavender asked.

"Yes," Mrs. Gesly responded, "the Agents haven't given up. My husband said he was able to foil their first plan, with your help. The United Mage Republic handled the bombs in specified locations, but the Agents are growing more desperate. I've discovered a new plan. They found an entrance to the Below through Nix Terra, I believe my husband may have been followed when he first entered the Below. After raiding the textile vaults they plan on sending shipments all throughout the Below."

"It's true then." Lavender stated. "I got into a skirmish with some Agents, they mentioned bombs, but now my suspicions are confirmed."

Mrs. Gesly's tone took on a positive inflection, "So the situation is handled?"

"Not exactly," Lavender groaned. "The UMR is aware of the situation and they will keep it in mind. But I don't think they'll find all the shipments. There are just too many. And we can't evacuate the Below, we have nowhere to go."

"You'll have to deactivate the bombs then," Mrs. Gesly responded.

"We would never be able to find all of them, let alone deactivate them all. Last time was different, we had a map of their locations."

Mrs. Gesly's end of the line remained silent for a moment, and then she said, "What if I told you that there is a map of these bombs and a way to disable them."

"You do? Where? Send it to the UMR now, maybe we can save everyone."

"It's not that simple," Mrs. Gesly sighed. "I don't have the map. It's inside the Agents of D.C. base in Niagara along with a control panel to deactivate them remotely."

"Can you get it?"

"No, I cannot go back there without being recognized and shot. But you can."

Lavender's eyes lit up. She could help her people after all. "Where is the base? Give me all the instructions and I will go now. There's not a moment to waste."

Mrs. Gesly told Lavender the location of the Niagara base along with the information that Corey Gesly had hidden a cell phone in one of the wall panels. After Lavender infiltrated the base, she was to find the cell phone and call the most recent number. From there, Mrs. Gesly would walk her through the base and instruct her how to deactivate the bombs.

Lavender hung up the phone with a new drive. She grabbed her coat, intending to go home for her scythe and then head up to the Niagara base.

"Lavender, who was that?" Finnikin asked, looking rather uncomfortable.

"Diana Gesly, Corey's wife. I'm going to deactivate the bombs." Lavender stopped at the front desk and began writing down what she knew, including the address. She handed Finnikin the slip of paper and said, "I need you to give the chief this information and tell him that that's where the D.C.s responsible for the bombs are located." Lavender wrote the address on her hand for good measure.

"You're going to the base? Isn't that dangerous?" FInnikin asked, following Lavender out of the medical ward into the main station. He stopped at the desk, but when she offered him the slip he refused it..

"Yes, but I've trained my whole life for this." Lavender set her badge down on the front desk and put the paper down, since Finnikin wasn't accepting it.. "Stay here and stay safe, Finn."

"Lavender shouldn't you let the professionals handle this?"

"There's no time."

With that, Lavender Necros was out the door traveling to her house. As soon as she entered, she left. This time she traveled bearing her deadly scythe and an even deadlier gaze of determination.

She trekked through the snow on the same path she and Finnikin had taken to Niagara until she reached the cave to the surface. It was even narrower than she remembered, the walls closed in on her far more than they had when she was with Finnikin.

As she neared the surface and the blinding light of day began to reflect off of the cavern walls, Lavender heard a scuffling ahead of her. She slammed herself against the wall and hid behind a divot in the rock face. The Agents were still trying to enter Nixta, she was sure of it. Lavender recalled her last skirmish with the humans; it had been in her favor and she had still lost.

Lavender focused on her training, and began drawing power from the darkness around her. She needed to stay calm, focused, emotionless. Unlike last time, she had the element of surprise and an even head. Lavender heard the scuffling and footsteps grow quieter, and she realized the human must be either departing to the surface or aware of her presence.

She tilted her head around the rock wall ever so slowly, seeing a flash of blue and gold disappear around an edge of the cave. Lavender bolted after the blur, moving silently on light feet. The cave walls blurred around Lavender as she turned the corner and charged all her energy into one magical attack.

"Lavender! It's me-" Finnikin exclaimed, putting his hands up.

The wave of dark energy halted just in front of Finnikin's face, being held back by Lavender's willpower. "Finn, duck," Lavender commanded. As soon as her friend ducked, she released the energy and it dissipated above his head. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to help, I figured you would come here," Finnikin said as he stood up.

"I left before you, though."

"You stopped home first, I came straight here, and I'm not going back. Those humans hurt you once and I'm not going to let it happen again."

"Finnikin. I'm a soldier, you're a civilian. There's nothing you can do to help me. I've been trained for years how to fight. These people- they're something else. I promise you won't stand a chance," Lavender pleaded for Finnikin to go back to Nixta. It wasn't safe for him here.

"No. Lavender. I don't want to see you or anyone else get hurt." Finnikin turned toward the entrance of the cave and raised his hands. He chanted some incantation and the entryway back to Nixta began freezing over.

"What are you doing- Finnikin go home!"

"Lavender, I'm an adult and I'm helping you stop these people. My powers are useful and every minute you spend arguing with me you could be spending infiltrating that base and saving lives. Take me with you, I've been your partner in solving this mystery up to now."

Lavender bit her lip and nodded, "Fine, but if you're in any danger. I want you to leave me and run far away."

"I promise I will." Finnikin finished sealing off the entrance and turned toward the surface. "What's that address again?"

Lavender read off the address from where she had written it on her hand.

"I know where that is and I know a shortcut. Follow me," Finnikin said. He immediately led the way out of the tunnel.

As much as Lavender hated putting FInnikin in danger, she had to admit that having him here was an asset. He knew his way around the area and an additional pair of hands might be necessary to deactivate the bombs.

After walking in silence the entire way there, Lavender finally said in a quiet voice. "Thank you for coming with me."

Finnikin offered Lavender a smile and looked up at the unimpressive building that housed the greatest threat to the United Mage Republic. "What are friends for?"

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