Dark Energy by carlsojos

Chapter 51

Demi eases the Land Rover to a stop on the edge of Termi. Given how the rest of the world is a desert, Termi is definitely a tropical oasis. I've had the opportunity to come to the artificial beach built here during spring break in the past, but I never felt the need to spend that much money on a couple weeks away from my books. Looking out over the town, I can't help but wonder if I should've spent the money after all.

Holy shit, it's a resort! Ray looks genuinely excited.

Did you hit your head, Blades, or do I need to add a lump?

He doesn't even look away from the window. Are you kidding me? This is Babe Central! Check out all them girls! I look out another window. I have a feeling those ladies would probably wear something a bit less skimpy if they could hear Ray's panting through the window.

Demi turns off the motor. Didn't you say we're here to do something specific, Marika?

I weigh my options. After a quick thought, Yeah, but I don't see any problem if we took it easy today. That Shalan guy probably won't notice us right away.

Hell yeah! I'm gonna hit the lakefront! Ray jumps out before I could say anything more. Kids will be kids, I guess....

I wonder what's on that hill? I notice Jeetoh pointing at something. The hill on the north end of town looks to be overgrown, slowly turning into a thicket. I notice an abandoned building and... something? Maybe the top of a monument, but it's hidden by some trees. I see... a statue?

Why don't you check it out? It looks like a good place to camp out, rather than pay through the nose for an inn.

I'll light a fire when camp's ready. Be careful. Jeetoh walks out. Be careful? I wonder what Jeetoh's thinking... I guess he won't share his thoughts this time.

What about you, Dora?

Me? I don't have anything planned beyond a nap. I've been busy managing dig after dig. If you want, I can protect the locals from the Ray. Or vice versa.

I find myself laughing. Don't worry. I hear that cats have claws, too.

Well, I'm just gonna take off, then.

As I begin to contemplate my own options, Demi confronts me. What should I do?

Do you have anything you want to do?

Not really. I'm not exactly leisure oriented.

I decide on something that seems fun. Why don't you teach me how to drive the Land Rover?

Why do you want to do that?

Once we've taken care of the professor, we'll need to drive both vehicles back to the University.

It would only take a few seconds to prepare remote control on one.

I know, but I want to see exactly what this machine can do.

Demi realizes my implications. Oh. Sure, I can teach you. I sit in the driver's seat, and Demi pulls out some strange belts to fasten me to the seat, then she does the same to herself in the seat beside me. After going over the basic controls, she directs me away from the town to begin going through the capabilities of the machine.

After firing the on-board weapons and turning a patch of sand into shattered glass - this thing has quite a bit of firepower! - I put the throttle on the floor and start careening through the desert like a maniac with a deathwish. I notice Demi's starting to look a bit nervous. Ignoring the flashing lights on the control panel, I power up a sand dune with so much speed, that the heavy brute takes to the sky. I think I can see Monsen from up here! Hold on, what's that?

I land with a crunch, and the motor stalls. You just overloaded the hydraulics. Let me reset the pump circuit. Demi unstraps and walks to the back of the vehicle. I suppress the adrenaline coursing through my blood just long enough to look in the direction of the object I saw. I only see a dust cloud now, but it's getting closer.

Try the starter! I hit the start button, and the machine starts making a lot of beeping sounds as I'm greeted with a plethora of colored lights. Demi looks over my shoulder at the control panel. I think you bent the suspension out of shape. The shock absorbers aren't adjusting correctly. Just then, something flies past our bow at breakneck speed.

What was that?!

I don't think we really wish to know, Marika. I press the start button again, and the motor comes to life. I'm about to start driving again, when a large, metal vehicle slides to a stop in front of us.

I notice two large spinning spikes on the front. It's the Ice Digger! I engage the reverse direction and bury the pedal. The motor roars, but I barely get going before the Ice Digger cuts me off. I try going forward, but he blocks me again. I reach to the weapon controls, but Demi grabs my hand.

Don't open fire. We might destroy it. Demi slams the direction in reverse, and presses a big red button. Limiters Disabled flashes across the control panel.

I'm going! I bury the throttle again, and the heavy Land Rover takes off like a shot this time, spraying sand all over the Ice Digger. Flying over sand dunes was fun, but going backwards over them is downright scary. Despite our steed wanting to spin around whenever I try to turn, I manage to keep the Land Rover reversing at full speed, its nose mere inches away from the menacing spikes of our aggressor. I suddenly hear a loud crunch, and pieces of wood fly by my side window. Demi, where are we going?

She pulls up a moving picture of what's behind us. We're tearing through Termi! Don't hit anyone! I almost plaster one woman across the back of the machine, but I see someone pull her out of the way in the nick of time. I recognize Ray as I fly past. Once we've cleared the small town, Demi unfastens her belts again. Keep going, Marika! I'm going to try to disable the digger.

Be careful! I hear a hatch open behind me, and in a moment, Demi's crouched on the windscreen. I do my best to go straight.

I hear something on my radio, Wren, protect me.... Demi leaps from the Rover, and somehow lands on the Ice Digger! I spin the Land Rover out of the way to become the chaser. I made it! Overriding the controls now. I see Demi rip off a small panel and tear out all the wires behind it. The digger's tracks lock immediately, sending Demi flying. I engage the brakes, and get out of my ride without even waiting for it to completely stop.

I run to Demi. No! I'm worried she's hurt, but she points at the digger.

I'm okay! Stop him! I see someone wearing a strange cross between university gear and combat armor running off, and I give chase.

You'll never get me, you fucking hypocrites! I see the man grab something. It appears to resemble a can, like for food, so I pour on the speed. Smoke erupts from the can and I next find myself doubled over, looking at the can. I reach at it, and the world goes black.

Knockout gas. I'm being dragged? My eyes don't want to work and I feel like I'm under water. I try to move, but nothing happens. I stop, why did I stop? I get put face down on something. Somebody's talking, but I don't understand the words. I can't open my eyes....

RAY! STOP HITTING ON THE GIRLS AND GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE! The words pierce the cloud surrounding my head. What did Ray do?

Some more incomprehensible conversation. Am I asleep? Arows! The cloud suddenly leaves my mind, and I roll over, claw extended. Ray flinches as I come within an inch of connecting with his neck. I retract the claw when I recognize his face and sit up.

How do you feel? Your mind still foggy? Demi looks worried.

That fucker got away.... I feel like I'm the reason behind our loss. If I kept everyone with me....

Dora pats my shoulder. At least nobody got hurt. Don't know how we're gonna explain the damages, though. I look at the ravaged lakefront. People are strewn all over, clearly shaken by the unexpected action. Two pairs of trenches run across the sand, and small bits of wood litter the ground- the remnants of the furniture. My ears perk up to the sound of someone cursing a blue streak, heading this way. I look over to see a tanned man with black hair and a tie storming over from one of the buildings.

Damn it! Will someone please tell me what the hell happened out here!

Ray blocks his path. Who are you?

I am the proprietor of Termi Lake, and I insist on an explanation as to why my 50,000 meseta development now looks like a fucking warzone! He's quite steamed.

I get up. Apparently I was put in the only beach chair still intact. Professor Landiet did this. At least it's a half-truth, right? I don't want to be a perennial liar.

Then the fucker is a dead man! He owes me an entire business district!

I consider bringing up the warrant, but something else is bothering me. You seem more concerned with profit than the wellness of your customers.

The man comes within inches of my face. I don't particularly care for his mannerisms. Haven't you ever heard of Aiedo Hernandez? The name does ring a bell. I'm his Light-damned successor, Micheal! He steps away and makes a gesture at the beach. How in the name of Hell am I to rebuild his empire when shit like this happens?!

I contemplate the name. Aiedo.... The truth smacks me as Micheal continues to survey the damage. THE Aiedo?

He looks out onto the lake. Damn right. About 1,200 years spent creating the greatest marketplace this world will ever know, and some drunk-ass hunter burns down the entire damn town overnight! I try to start growing the money to rebuild, and another fuck-up destroys this place, too!

Are you implying that us hunters are fuck-ups? I catch Ray reaching for a knife, and reach over to stop him.

Micheal takes a deep breath before he responds. No. No, I'm not. I'm just pissed because something is ALWAYS going wrong here. He turns to us, eyeing us with a little suspicion. So, how do you folks fit in the picture? You're not my typical tourists.

I'm Hunter Ashley, with Hunter Blades, Dora, and Demi. We're here to execute a death warrant against Professor Shalan Landiet. I was caught off guard while motoring around outside town. He chased me through here, causing the damages. I'm sorry this happened.

Micheal pulls out a small dagger and throws it just past my head. I see it stick into a door. I don't need apologies. If I did, I'd buy a couple from the shop next door. What I do need, is that this mess gets cleaned up, and my furniture gets fixed, before word gets out that my beautiful beach has been destroyed and I really wind up in the shitter.

Ray glances at me, then puts his hand on Micheal's shoulder. I'll fix your things. It's been a while since I've used a hammer.

I nod. We'll clean up the lakefront. I guess I am also somewhat responsible, since I was in front.

The tools are in the shed by the clothing shop. Micheal shrugs off Ray's hand and walks off into his office. I catch a glimpse of a girl inside. I assume she's his secretary, but why is she wearing such heavy armor? I take a few shovels and rakes from the shed for the others, and conscript a few bystanders to help out as well. Looking up at the sun, I hop into the store next door and somehow convince the shop keeper to give me one of their skimpy swim tops, on the cheap. Normally, I'd refuse to show this much skin, but a black shirt and leather jacket would cook me alive, working in this heat. I keep my skirt out of modesty, and hurry back over to help the others.

Wow, we really trashed the place! Probing one of the tracks from the vehicles, I realize that we had actually started to cut into a layer of clay under half a foot of sand.

Dora starts picking up the splintered wood. If it's any help for your guilty conscience, I heard that your little chase resulted in Ray getting a girlfriend.

I think for a minute. I don't see the correlation at all, Dora. I don't even see how someone could put up with Ray as a boyfriend.

Neither do I, but I didn't ask details.

Something crosses my mind. Now, who would win in a fight, a womanizing hunter armed with every kind of weapon imaginable, or a hussy who knows how to take advantage of a man's money pouch? We laugh, and toil away at restoring the sandy lakefront.

Next chapter

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