Star-Crossed - Chapter 26 (Patreon)

While Blake’s footsteps clunked down the metal ramp leading off of the Inferno, her heart remained heavy.  Nearby Blackguards stopped what they were doing and stared at her, but she paid them no mind.  She didn’t care if they were shocked or thrilled that she came back only to be caught again.  She didn’t care what amusement or vindication they found in her impending death.

She couldn’t get Ret’s last smile out of her thoughts, and with it, a burning fury towards Cinder and Adam.  Their needless violence created unnecessary victims - and for what?  To make themselves feel more powerful?

“Get a move on,” Cinder snapped, and the guard behind Blake promptly shoved her forward.  After catching her balance, she turned around and glared at the man, who glared right back before shoving her again.

“Move,” he ordered, making her grit her teeth while doing as told.

If it wasn’t one versus one hundred, she might do something reckless.  It would get her killed, but she was accepting death more and more with every step.  That unavoidable fate tempted her to launch herself at Cinder right now, but she held herself in check.  If she was going to die, she would take Adam or Cinder with her - preferably both.  Ret’s death wouldn’t be in vain.

“I’m sorry...” Yang whispered as they were led away from the ship, but Blake shook her head.  She knew Yang blamed herself for what just happened, but it wasn’t her fault.  If it was anyone’s fault, it was Blake’s.  She shouldn’t have let Ret find her.  She shouldn’t have told him who she was looking for.  Or she should have knocked him unconscious so he couldn’t make such a foolish decision on his own.

It was too late for that now.  The only thing she could do was make his murderer pay.

“He was a good kid…” Yang muttered towards the ground before falling silent.

Blake couldn’t even respond to that, not with the lump of emotion in her throat.  Instead, she clenched her fists and glared daggers at Cinder’s back while the woman sauntered up ahead.  Ret never fit in with the Blackguards, but all he wanted was somewhere to belong.  He wanted a family to replace the one he lost.  He might have found it too, if only Cinder weren’t involved.

Feeling Yang’s glance, Blake kept her eyes trained forward and fought back tears.  Now wasn’t the time for mourning.  Although...if walking to her death wasn’t the time for mourning, when was?

Rather than dwell on the pain in her heart, however, she focused on the path leading between the mountains, which turned out not to be mountains at all.  The structures had the size and shape of mountains but, upon closer inspection, were actually intricate piles of rock.  From small pebbles to massive boulders, each piece fit together perfectly and, somehow, had remained this way for who knew how many years.

The formations must have been created for a reason.  As Blake had seen on the topography scan, their placement created the unique star-shaped symbol just like the maps had when laid on top of each other.  There must be another purpose...but it could take years for a trained professional to figure that out, and even longer for someone like herself to understand the mysteries of this place.  All she knew was that someone put a great deal of thought into this location, and what could the Blackguards - as intruders - possibly understand about this foreign land?

Hearing someone’s foot scuff on the ground, Blake turned and instinctively reached out when Yang stumbled forward.  Blake’s escort instantly sprang to motion and pulled her back, but one of the other Blackguards steadied Yang before she fell.  Yang gave the man a grateful smile and nod for the help, but he quickly let go of her arm and backed away.

More Blackguards flanked Yang on all sides but kept a respectful distance, probably worried about what she could do if she got her hands on them.  She wasn’t in any condition to fight though, not with her visible wounds and a clear limp in her gait.  From the way she favored her left leg and her side, she must be in an incredible amount of pain but was struggling not to let it show.

“Are you ok?” Blake whispered as they made it past the first set of mountains only to find another ring further in.

“I’d say that I’ll survive, but...I’m not sure of that.”  After another few steps, Yang met Blake’s gaze with a sad one of her own.  “I didn’t want you to die with me.”

“I thought you said it was romantic,” Blake pointed out, but Yang held her gaze for several long seconds before turning away with a sigh.

“What do I know about romance...”

Honestly, what did either of them know about romance?  Considering their relationship had been destined to be a tragedy from the start...very little.  But that didn’t change how Blake felt or make her regret her decisions in the slightest.

Even if their relationship was destined to be a tragedy, the time she spent with Yang had opened her eyes in ways she couldn’t have imagined.  No longer was she naïve to the complexities of simple words like good and evil, and no longer was she a pawn marching forward to someone else’s orders.  But that didn’t matter anymore, and was the last thing on her mind when they passed the next set of mountains and approached the center of the formation.

In the middle of the rock creations rose a spire almost impossible to describe.  Equal parts natural formation and man-made monolith, it combined giant slabs of rock with shimmering metal that glinted in the low light.  It overlooked the nearby mountains yet blended into the landscape, as if hiding and standing out at the same time.  A ship passing overhead was bound to miss it, but someone walking the planet’s surface would never forget it.

“Holy shit...” Yang breathed out as they walked closer.  The response mirrored Blake’s, as she stared in awe at the structure looming before them.

In typical Blackguard fashion, explosives had been used to demolish one side of the mountain and reveal a hollow within.  As their group grew closer, however, Blake realized that the explosives hadn’t damaged the metal.  Instead, veins of the indestructible material hung in the air even after the rock had crumbled and fallen to the wayside.

Blackguards were still carting debris away from the rough opening, but the pathway was clear.  Cinder walked through without hesitation, but Blake took one last look at the metal before following into the heart of the structure.  As soon as she stepped inside, her awe doubled.

The room was cavernous, built right into the mountain of rock with a ceiling towering far above their heads.  Threads of metal running through the walls and ceiling provided a sense of fortitude she wouldn’t expect with several tons of rock sitting above her, but she got the distinct feeling that the metal skeleton would never give in to the weight of rocks it held.

It wasn’t until she passed three stone columns inscribed with Valerian runes that sadness washed over her.  This place was a remnant of a long-lost civilization that could still be here had they not sacrificed their way of life.  Standing here, surrounded by evidence of their intelligence and riches, she couldn’t imagine how difficult that decision must have been.

The Valerians went through the trouble of hiding this place because they didn’t want anyone to find it.  Because they deemed it too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands.  Because they would rather sacrifice themselves than be responsible for the death and destruction this place could cause.

Now Adam was here, and Blake felt horrible for helping him.  That feeling only grew when she saw the wall at the far end of the atrium, made entirely of the same metal holding the mountain upright.  The shimmering silver wall looked almost liquid, but its smooth surface had survived the test of time without blemish.  It looked like it belonged within the mountain but logic told her that couldn’t be true; someone built it to block them from whatever lay beyond.

Explosives wouldn’t work anymore, although Adam probably considered that route.  Using explosives inside the chamber would bring the entire mountain of rock down on their heads and bury the other artifacts in the room - most notably, a large, interconnected piece of rock that looked like some type of forge.  A fire already blazed in the contraption, either lit by the Blackguards or powered by whatever magic coursed through this place.

They weren’t supposed to be here - Blake felt that indisputable fact with every breath she took.  It wasn’t meant for them.  They weren’t one of ‘the worthy,’ as the maps warned.  They weren’t even Valerian.

That wouldn’t stop Adam, who stood watch while Blackguards hauled boxes of equipment around the room.  Just seeing him renewed Blake’s anger, and her glower returned when he turned towards them.

“Look who I found.”

Cinder sounded so pleased with herself, Blake nearly rolled her eyes.  Instead, Adam caught her gaze, and a fresh wave of anger, fear, and hatred rolled through her.

“Alone, I’m guessing,” he replied with a smirk she wanted to wipe right off his face.  “What happened - ISA didn’t believe you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“I don’t need to - you being here says enough.”  When she scowled at the remark, he glanced at Cinder and the rest of his crew.  “But I’m sure ISA will be here in a few months, so let’s get a move on.”

The Blackguards chuckled while Adam motioned for Blake and Yang’s escorts to take them closer to the wall of metal.

“Look familiar?” he asked from ahead of them.

When he gestured towards the wall, Blake gave it a closer look.  The only noticeable mark on the surface was an indentation in the outline of an ornate key - the key referenced on the maps and throughout the legends.  Other than that, it was the most pristine piece of metal she’d ever seen.

Stepping closer, she raised her hand to feel the unnatural chill rising off of the surface.  Her brow furrowed when a sense of familiarity wove through her, but she didn’t understand the reason until she touched her fingers to the cool, smooth metal and spotted Yang in her field of vision.

Suddenly, she understood, and spun towards Yang as worry raced through her.

“Ah, you catch on fast.”

Adam’s reply confirmed Blake’s fear, and she watched with growing concern as he walked over to Yang.  Opening glaring at him, Yang didn’t even flinch when two burly guards pulled her arms tight behind her back.

“I know you’d be important.”  Reaching out, Adam set his hand on Yang’s shoulder and trailed his fingers down her arm.  “I just didn’t know how.”

“Stay - the hell - away from her,” Blake snarled, though she was in no position to help.  Just seeing him so close to Yang raised her hackles, and her adrenaline surged in preparation of rushing to Yang’s aid.  Adam, however, ignored the threat and kept his focus on Yang.

“I thought I had to keep you alive,” he added before tapping her shoulder.  “Turns out, I only needed this.”

It all made sense now.  His possessiveness of her.  The way he kept her close.  The reason he granted her liberties he gave no one else.  He needed her, not the other way around.

Yang was the key.  This entire time - she was the key.  It was right there, in her arm, a metal forgotten by the universe, somehow blessed upon her.  It made her strong, but it also made her vulnerable.

And, from the confusion in her eyes, she’d had no idea.

“Everyone thought you had to find a key,” Adam continued while walking over the giant forge.  Blake didn’t want to follow but a shove in the back prompted her that way.

“Find the key,” he scoffed before shoving something towards them.  Blake’s eyes widened when she saw what it was - a mold in the shape of a key fitting the pattern in the wall.

“Just like destiny - you make your own.”

After moving the mold to the end of the forge, Adam walked over to Yang and nodded to the guards, who shoved her to her knees.  Blake immediately struggled against the man holding her, and strained even harder when Adam put his hand underneath Yang’s chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

She promptly spit in his face.

“Bitch!” he snarled, wiping his eyes before slapping her across the face.  Livid now, he waved another guard forward to turn Yang’s head away this time.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” he sneered before working his fingers underneath the edge of metal connecting Yang’s arm to her shoulder.  From her pained expression, that wasn’t how it was supposed to detach, but Adam didn’t care.  Once he had a good handhold, he set his feet and pulled.

A low moan slipped through Yang’s lips as she struggled to free herself, but with three Blackguards using their full leverage to hold her down, she had no chance.  And Blake could do nothing to help.  Even though she fought against the man holding her arms, she couldn’t break free.  Instead, she watched Adam abort his first attempt and resituate his hand for a better grip.  Then he wrenched backward as hard as he could, and Yang cried out in pain as her metal arm tore free.

When Adam stepped away holding his prize, the guard holding Yang’s head released her, and the silence settling over the room confirmed what Blake currently felt.  None of them had seen Yang without her arm before, and something about the soft, useless stump was...demoralizing.  And for Yang, who kept her eyes trained on the ground while her chest heaved with emotions, it must be humiliating.

Standing above her, Adam clutched the lifeless piece of metal and glared at her.

“Pathetic,” he spit out.

In one fluid motion, Yang leapt to her feet and lunged at him.  She already had him by the collar before the guards pulled her off of him, and he stumbled backwards as soon as she was forced to let go.

One of the guards grabbed her arm only to earn an elbow to the face.  Another got a knee between the legs that sent him crashing to the ground with a yelp of pain.

“Get ahold of her!” Adam shouted while three more sprinted over to help.

Taking advantage of the temporary chaos, Blake stomped on her guard’s foot and broke free of his grasp.  Rushing over to help, she grabbed the first Blackguard she got her hands on, turned him by his shoulder and punched him in the face.

That was as far as she got before strong arms wrapped around her waist, lifted her feet off the ground, and threw her away from the fray.  She hit the ground and rolled back to her feet, but didn’t get much further before someone else kicked her in the side.  The resulting pain put sparks of white in her vision, and her arms were pinned behind her before she could even catch her breath.

In the midst of the fray, Cinder sighed and pulled a small device from within her suit.  As soon as she pressed the button, loud, crackling electricity filled the air, and Yang collapsed to the ground in a fit of convulsions.

“Honestly,” Cinder said with a shake of her head.  After holding the button for several more seconds, she finally let go, and the sound of static stopped.  The Blackguards rushed forward to subdue Yang, which seemed unnecessary now that the energy had been zapped right out of her.  Still, one of them grabbed her arm and pinned it behind her back while another got her in a chokehold while she was on her knees.

Once Yang was no longer a threat, Cinder walked over, pulled her black as death arm from beneath her cloak, and hit Yang hard across the face.  Yang’s head whipped to the side from the force of the blow, and it took several seconds before she spit blood on the ground and laughed.

“Finally found the courage to do that, huh?”

When Cinder scowled and drew her phaser, Yang laughed again.

“Coward…”

“I’ll show you who’s the coward.”

Cinder pressed the barrel to Yang’s forehead, but Yang didn’t even blink.

“Cinder.”

When Adam shook his head, Yang smiled, and Cinder scowled before reluctantly putting the weapon away.

“Let them watch,” he added before walking to the head of the forge.  Now that the danger had passed, he’d regained his swagger and wasted no time holding Yang’s arm above the fire.

“Wish I’d known I only needed this,” he said before dropping Yang’s arm into the flames.  “Although you proved quite useful at times…”

The subtle compliment deepened Cinder’s scowl, but Blake couldn’t tear her eyes away from the fire,  which flared as if welcoming home an old friend.  Before their eyes, Yang’s arm started losing its shape, then its hardness.  It grew soft, then even softer, before folding in on itself.

The fingers were the first to liquefy.  The wrist quickly followed, and Blake watched in surprise as two different colors emerged.  One a dark, dirty steel that fell through the flames and disappeared.  The other a light, liquid silver that flowed into the lines of the forge and slid towards the mold at the end.  That liquid silver must be what Adam was after - Valerian steel.

The amount in Yang’s arm wasn’t much, but just enough.  Once every drop had been collected, Adam carefully rotated the mold over to a large vat of water, which hissed and sent billows of steam into the air the instant the mold touched it.

While the hissing continued, Blake’s internal timers started ringing.  She’d been gone for a long time now, and Sun would be getting antsy for her return.  The question was...what could he do to get them out of this?

Glancing around the atrium, Blake counted the Blackguards - fifteen in this room alone, all heavily armed.  Plus Adam and Cinder, who weren’t to be trifled with.  If Sun was the greatest Alliance agent to have ever lived, he couldn’t battle his way through this.

Blake wouldn’t signal for help.  She couldn’t let him charge in here guns blazing - doing so was a death sentence.  If she and Yang weren’t making it out of this, he had to.  That meant he had to stay on the ship as long as possible.  If it was already over by the time he decided to check, hopefully he would just confirm their deaths and leave.  He would know that’s what Blake wanted him to do.  He would understand that’s why she didn’t call for help.  Hopefully, he would just leave...

Once the hissing fell silent, Adam waited a few more minutes before pulling the mold out of the water and tapping the side.  A newly-minted key fell into his hand, and he smiled while holding it up for everyone to see.  The Blackguards clapped or whistled, but Blake shared a look with Yang while foreboding swelled in her chest.

“All that searching, for this.”

Taking the key over to the wall, Adam fit it into the indentation and paused.  For a brief moment, he surveyed his victory - just a key turn away from him - before turning the lock.

As soon as the key pivoted, a perfect line appeared in the wall, running from floor-to-ceiling.  When he turned the key even further, the line expanded enough for him to grab the edge and push it open.

Blake couldn’t make out much of the room beyond, but it was already lighted, as if opening the door prompted the mountain to welcome back its rightful owner.  Adam had no right to the warm welcome, but he smirked while standing on the cusp of his greatest heist.  Before walking through the entryway, however, he turned towards Blake and Yang.

“Bring them,” he instructed the guards.  “They deserve to see the end.”

After two Blackguards dragged Yang to her feet, she exchanged a worried glance with Blake.  That was all they had time for before they were prodded through the doorway leading into the fabled Valerian steel mines.

Blake didn’t know what to expect on the other side, but she couldn’t escape the feeling that Adam was right.  In one way or another, this was the end.