The Chimera Summoner -ch 41 (part 2/2) – sneaking around with bad intentions, and other ways to make new friends

The engineer’s eyes fluttered.

I was still blushing furiously from the SCALDING make out session that Hera had hit me with.

Once I had explained how my healing worked to her, she had agreed without hesitation and shoved me into a wall. What followed was the most eye fluttering tongue assault I had ever experienced, made even more crazy by the fact that thirty bewildered Netherim were staring at us the whole time.

“Fuck?” Seela asked faintly, when we’d done.

Now, I stared down at the awakening Engineer. “Hey buddy. How ya feeling?”

She groaned, and made to move her arm, thereby discovering her restraints. We’d improvised some restraints with some spare clothing gleaned from the Netherim. I made a mental note that Hera already knew how to effectively hog-tie someone with a couple jackets.

“Wha–” she groaned.

“Don’t fake a concussion, pal.” I snapped. “I know for a fact that you are fine.”

Her eyes slid into focus and she regarded me with calculating eyes.

“As you will have surmised, you got captured.” I went on. “Oh how the turntables have turned. Etc.”

She nodded, eyes darting around at the freed Netherim who were eyeing her hostilely.

“As you have also noticed, these are not your biggest fans.” I said. “However, what you will not have realized, but what is most important to both of us, is that this is your lucky day.”

She raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“That’s right.” I said. “I am going to offer you a once in a lifetime, right-now-only deal.”

I could see her focus up.

“Behind door number one, and spoiler this is the good door for all of us, you can join team escaping prisoners, renounce your life of villainy, and stick it to your shitty bosses who don’t properly appreciate you. I know that sounds crazy but–”

“Ok.” She said.

“--I want you to think very carefully about– say what now?” I jerked my head back in confusion.

“Ok.” She repeated. “I’m in. You’ll take me with you when you escape?”

I looked at Hera. She shrugged in shock.

“Sure. If that’s what you want.”

“Ok. We need to move fast then. You guys really fucked this part of the Fortress.” Bayla said.

“Woah woah woah, she doesn’t just get to snap her fingers and she’s on the team!” Hera protested.

Bayla shook her head. “Isn’t that exactly what you just asked of me?”

Hera frowned. “Yeah but you weren’t supposed to agree so easily. Now you’re suspicious.”

Bayla rolled her eyes. “My boss sucked before the new guys got here. Now this Carmine bitch is calling shots, and they’re up to some spooky, fucked up shit. That’s not what I signed up for. I have been looking for a way out for months. Unbelievably, you’re the safest option that has thus far presented itself. And this might be my last chance.”

“Why the last chance?” I asked.

She frowned. “You don’t know what they wanted you all for, do you?”

I shook my head.

“Let’s just say, we need to get out of here. Soon.” she said, darkly.

I looked at Hera.

“Look, this is your plan. But, I don’t know how we get out of here without help. And she, technically, is help.” She said.

“This is your choice too.” I said to Seela.

She had been watching proceedings intently, and now relayed it to the rest of the Netherim. There was a lot of contention.

“Not to be a nudge, but when I say soon, I mean, they’re starting the ritual right now.” Bayla said. “Why do you think we aren’t already swarmed with guards?”

“What ritual?” I asked.

Then a jolt of pain like nothing I had ever felt shot through my bond to Lorna.

It felt like every fiber of my being was being yanked on like a thread running out of the hem of a sweater.

I felt my back hit the floor. A hand was over my mouth. I realized dully that I must be screaming.

It went on and on and on.

I was even able to stop screaming.

My body writhed uncontrollably. But I shut my mouth. There was no point.

It passed as abruptly as it began, and I lay in Hera’s arms, panting. Sobbing a little. Sobbing a lot. I didn’t even feel the sobs, just heard them.

They were insane sounding. Like BAD noises…. Uncomfortable to hear.

She looked at me with alarm, letting my mouth go, and instead cupping my cheek with huge tenderness.

“They’re doing something to her.” I forced out of my uncooperative system. Gods, my body was rattling.

“The ghost?” Bayla asked.

Hera leveled a look I had never seen on her face before on Bayla. “Talk. Now.”

Bayla wiggled uncomfortably in her bindings. “Would be easier if–”

Hera tossed the stolen hammer to a nearby Netherim.

“Talk, or I will let him flatten you out a quarter inch at a time. I will call the tempo. It will not be fast.” Hera said, still cradling me like a sad, lost goat. Her hand ran through my hair over and over and over.

Who was making that UGLY, scared little weeping sound…??

Oh. Me. Still. Yuck.

Bayla’s petrified voice came out at breakneck pace as she hurried to become useful.

“The ghost has a weapon! Some big cursed weapon from the dawn of time or whatever the fuck! They want it. She won’t give it to them. They have a way to take it by sacrificing a bunch of horned dudes in some fucked up mega ritual. Also this Carmine lunatic has convinced people that she can change their Classes, or have them changed, or something. Into something super super good, obviously. That’s what I know! Don’t flatten me, I have so many degrees! I’m too educated to be a pancake!”

“Lorna has a weapon?” Hera whispered.

“Not that I know of,” I shrugged, “but you’ve met her. She’s mysterious.”

Voice still sounds like someone was shaking a confused puppy. But. Hey. Words were coming out.

I got back to my feet, with Hera’s help. Her hand stayed on the small of my back, firm and supportive, but I didn’t feel like I needed it. The pain had passed.

But I was so fucking scared it would come back.

I didn’t move Hera’s hand away.

Just… in case I fell or something. Safety first.

I wanted back rubs. Worst pain of my life, scared out of my wits, hanging on by a thread of insanity. I wanted back rubs, and Hera was rubbing my back a little with her thumb.

Everyone (me) stop yelling at me. (In my own head.)

Maybe I am actually not mentally well, right this moment….

“Yeah but..!” Hera started. Then shook her head. “Ok, we need to get Lorna out of there. Rescue the Netherim. Prevent a big ritual.”

Hera grinned hugely at me. “This is big time Wayfinder shit!”

“Bad news, beautiful.” I muttered maniacally (Why do I sound like a drowned cat with a plan?) “We are not big time Wayfinders.”

“Yeahhhh, but if we succeed, it’ll be SO devastating for them.” She giggled. “Like really? We lost to THESE girls?? With Levels in the TEENS? Heh Heh Heh. They will poop.”

I sighed.

Or whistled? Some of both. I meant to sigh.

Couldn’t argue with that, though. They would poop.

“So how do we do those things without Carmine just easily putting us back in the cell?” I asked.

Hera scrunched up her nose adorably. “I dunno.”

I felt myself sinking into my own head, instinctively retreating from my body.

Ok.

Unassailable odds.

No resources.

A host of vulnerabilities.

Very little information.

What’s our advantage?

….

We are so weak that they will almost have to underestimate us.

Therefore, presumably, surprise.

If we accomplish literally anything, it will be a shock to everyone involved.

What’s the smallest thing we could reasonably accomplish that COULD be enough to snowball into their plans failing?

They want something from Lorna.

They have Marok.

Marok, who beat professor Bersley in a serious one on one fight. Without hurting him. Or us. Or her people.

They have old-school long range communication arrays on these things. Or they did in books. Or maybe those were stories. Unclear. Assume I’m right.

We have an engineer.

We have already caused a growing engine disaster.

What if it was worse?

What if we make everything…much, much more worse and dire-er. Dire-Eir. More dire. Hehe.

I am definitely not mentally well.

Ok.

“I have a scheme.” I said.

Hera perked up.

I poked her hand on my back to resume petting me, and to my desperate relief she started doing it again. I let out one more pathetic little sob of gratitude.

That’s enough. That was the last one. Fucking fight, Eir.

“See! Told you Eir would come up with a plan!” She said to the skeptical and afraid looking Seela.

“Not a plan. I didn’t say that, you can’t hold me to it.” I growled. Better a growl than a whine. “A scheme!”

Hera tilted her head. Seela mimicked adorably.

“What’s the difference?” they asked.

“Schemes. are. worse.”