Phoenix Phire

Bali and Ronnie followed Nix and his Che friend. The bespectacled ferret-man was friendly and easy to talk to.

Ronnie lowered her voice and whispered. "Now's a good time to bring up the 3-ways."

Bali stared at her for a moment, her pale face turning pink. "What? I'm not saying that!"

"Really?" The dark archer shot her a confused look. "Hey Nix, they have these paired artifacts that enable instant travel between two points up to 800 meters. They look like floormats that you place on the ground. Step on one and appear on the other."

Nix glanced at Halla who only shrugged. "If there are two points, then why call them 3-ways?"

"They are called 2-ways actually." Bali interrupted. "Ronnie keeps messing it up."

Ronnie smiled at the tiny ranger. "3-way sounds better. Who knew you were so uptight?"

"3-way does sound better," Nix agreed.

Bali looked from one to the other, neither one of them seemed like they were teasing her. "I thought I was good at messing with people..."

Ronnie threw an arm around the small ranger's shoulder. "You're like the fun sister I never had."

Bali gave her a skeptical look. "Don't you have a sister?"

Ronnie nodded. "Sure, but you're like the fun one I never had. Didn't I say that?"

Unexpectedly, the ranger's face split into a wide grin. "Yes. That's what you said."

Nix already knew where he was going since his team had explored a bit after they dealt with Yandro. He left Ronnie and Bali at the entrance to the grate covered ramp before leading Halla downward.

"I've read books about the infusing chamber but never thought I'd see one in person." Halla's dark-furred nose twitched excitedly while he held tightly onto the satchel he wore over one shoulder.

Nix walked down the ramp, the place had changed slightly since the last time he was here. Everything dragon-related seemed to decompose at an impossible rate. The room was completely empty except for the raised platform.

Halla pointed to the far wall. "The Operation interface should be over on that side. I'll need to disconnect the compilation from the diffuser."

Nix found the wall interface and tried to activate it. "No power yet."

"Right, that will change in a bit." Halla started tearing out the components that connected the extraction platform to the power grid. "This acts as storage for the dragon-marrow. After extraction, the diffuser limits the amount of energy that can be released at one time. The diffuser is even more vital now since we are dealing with a much more concentrated form of energy."

Nix nodded as if he understood. "Odds of this ending in a world-changing explosion?"

Halla twitched his nose slightly. "Fifty percent."

"I've had worse. I have to contact someone, let me know if you need help." Nix walked a few steps away from the altar.

[Direct Contact: Leva]

The Fallen Chancellor's face seemed etched with concern. "Nix! One of the Overlords has sent assassins. I may be forced to flee."

"Stick it out until the last moment, notify me before time runs out."

"I have a Tzai seed that I can take Nix, if I'm captured like this they have methods of extracting information from me."

Nix shook his head. "I forbid it. I will get you in, just hold out." He closed comm and wandered back toward Halla.

"I'm ready to insert the spectrum into the diffusing chamber." Halla's furred face didn't show any nervousness, but his twitching nose gave him away.

"Hey, Halla." Nix was standing by near the operator interface. "What do you have against Yuli?"

Halla paused, the sudden change in topics catching him by surprise. "Nothing, Yuli is a very good girl. Boomer is too young to have a girlfriend her age."

Nix laughed. "Damn... that's lame."

He watched as Halla placed the spectrum into the diffusing chamber. The earth-shaking release of power didn't happen, instead, it was a very anticlimactic and steady drone. The wall hud popped up in front of him.

[Elynmoor Interface Online: Reboot all systems?]

"No. Display systems that are in need of rebooting." Nix had no intention of returning the dragon city to its prior position. At least not right away."

[Elynmoor System Operations]

1. Security

2. Power Grid

3. Transportation

4. Master Key.

Nix stared at the hud while considering the possibilities. "Display all sub-menus.

[Elynmoor System Operations]

1. Security

a) City Controller (Yandro)

b) City Shields (Disabled)

c) City Gating Platforms (Disabled)

d) City Gun Points (Disabled)

2. Power Grid

a) City Utilities Power (Disabled)

b) Greater House Power (Disabled)

c) Residential Power (Disabled)

d) Business District Power (Disabled)

3. Transportation

a) Mark V Thrusters (Disabled)

b) Orbital Stabilizers (Disabled)

c) City Levitators (Disabled)

4. Master Key.

a) Annonymous (Disabled)

b) Intercity Communication (Disabled)

c) Direct Control (Disabled)

d) City Links (Disabled)

"Open Security Interface, City Controller."

[Elynmoor System Operations]

1. Security

a) City Controller (Yandro)

b) City Shields (Disabled)

c) City Gating Platforms (Disabled)

d) City Gun Points (Disabled)

[A message has been sent to Yandro regarding the start-up procedures. He has three minutes to answer.]

Nix smiled at the message, it could be three years and it still wouldn't matter. The prior City Controller wasn't going to answer.

(Three minutes Later)

[New City Controller Recognized: Nix]

[Elynmoor System Operations]

1. Security

a) City Controller (Nix)

b) City Shields (Disabled)

c) City Gating Platforms (Disabled)

d) City Gun Points (Disabled)

"Change the city name from Elynmoor to Inferno. Enable City Shields and City Gun Points. Open Power Grid Menu."

2. Power Grid

a) City Utilities Power (Disabled)

b) Greater House Power (Disabled)

c) Residential Power (Disabled)

d) Business District Power (Disabled)

"Enable all power grids. Open Master Key Menu."

4. Master Key.

a) Annonymous (Disabled)

b) Intercity Communication (Disabled)

c) Direct Control (Disabled)

d) City Links (Disabled)

"Enable Annonymous Settings. Access Direct Control."

[Direct Control Menu]

a) Inferno: Nix

b) Chyanama: Zylanexor

c) Dyrekstad: Hierophant

d) Goralpri: Bo'raz

e) Aquarius: Neptiphago

d) Icaraphet: Tharaka

f) Verynzai: Unaqoir

"Access Chyanama."

[A message has been sent to Zylanexor regarding the start-up procedures. He has three minutes to answer.]

Halla walked over while Nix was using the hud. "I wonder why Direct Access only shows the fallen cities."

Nix considered the statement while they waited. "Elynmoor was the last to fall. It makes sense that he would relinquish control of the cities still functioning."

[Chyanama City: Remote Controller Recognized: Nix]

"Open Chyanama Security Menu."

[Chyanama System Operations]

1. Security

a) City Controller (Nix)

b) City Shields (Enabled)

c) City Gating Platforms (Disabled)

d) City Gun Points (Disabled)

"Disable City Shields. Grant Secondary access to Security Menu to Leva."

[Direct Contact: Leva]

The Fallen Chancellor's holo popped up in front of Nix. The sound of fighting could be heard in the background. "Nix! I'm going to have to retreat soon!"

"No. I've given you access to the Security Menu of Chyanama. Enter the city and defend it. Contact me when the situation is resolved." Nix closed direct contact.

"Are we going to launch the city now?" Halla was nearly bouncing with excitement.

/Expedition: Ronnie: We have a guest Nix.

Nix grabbed Halla and pulled him toward the exit. "We can close this entrance and access the rest remotely through my personal hud."

Nix found Ronnie standing on the wall staring through the shield that was currently surrounding the city. "Any idea what she wants?"

Ronnie shook her head. "She asked to speak with our leader and then hasn't spoken since."

Nix moved to the edge of the wall. "I'm Nix, the Guild Leader of Inferno. What do you want?"

The woman was young and covered in mud like the rest of her people. "I'm Zinu, the only cleric in the Krayven Clan."

Nix didn't speak further since she hadn't mentioned her reason for coming.

"The fighters you have taken went against our rules when they attacked you. I will offer you a trade for the return of their bodies." Zinu prostrated herself on the ground.

"Please stand up." Nix wrinkled his nose at the woman on the ground. "What do you offer in trade?"

Zinu stood up slowly. "Myself. My Clan will not survive long without our hunters and fighters."

Nix seemed to consider her words. "Hmm... Can you cook?"

"Yes."

"How are you at mending clothes?"

Zinu stared at him for a moment before answering. "I know how to use a needle."

Nix frowned slightly. "That answer doesn't really instill confidence. Are you fertile?"

Ronnie covered her mouth to keep from laughing, turning away to hide her face.

"I think so." Zinu stared at the ground, her expression unreadable beneath the mud that coated her skin.

"Deal."

Over the next few minutes, the bodies of the fallen Krayven were returned to Zinu so she could rez them. Nix raised the shields once again and waited until she was done.

Zinu approached the shields when she was finished. Her comrades stood in a circle watching her with gloomy faces. "I am ready."

Nix nodded. "I'm the Guild Leader of Inferno and a Breach Commander. Do you know what that is?"

Zinu nodded, "Breach Commanders are known to us."

"Then you know what to expect. When I have need a cleric, I won't hesitate to summon you." Nix waved with one hand and walked away without saying anything else.

A short while later, Nix stood in the Inn. "Open Transportation Menu"

[Inferno City: Transportation Menu]

a) Mark V Thrusters (Disabled)

b) Orbital Stabilizers (Disabled)

c) City Levitators (Disabled)

/Expedition: Nix: Everyone find something to hang onto.

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