The Alchemist's Children: Panacea

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Ania clicked on her flashlight and Callen's HUD instantly adjusted to the new source of light. They were in a facility basement filled with a variety of equipment designed to supply the installation with electricity, water, air, heat, and other necessities. The variety of advanced equipment had been long powered down.

  Bloodstains, bullet holes, scattered cages designed to transport medium sized animals, and skeletons (human and gremlin, among others), lay strung throughout the basement. Scratches in the wall caught Callen's eyes reminding him of how the metallic demons clung to the walls in his old apartment building when they chased him, his sister and grandfather. Some battle had taken place here that the six of them were ten years late for.

  Ania floated the flashlight beam over the fleshless skeletons. "This place is a graveyard..." She whispered. "Whatever happened here was..." She shuttered. "I don't like this place."

  Callen nodded. “Well…lets get this place working so we can get out of here…” He looked around the basement. Using the maps of the facility he had on his computer, he located the control console for the geothermal electrical system. He looked at Ania. "Looks like this door we came in is the emergency access door to the power system…Let's see if I can power this place up.” He looked over the variety of plastic buttons, levers, and powered down status indicator dials.

  "Can the door hold?" Ania yelled over the pounding of fists on the door behind them.

  “Si, seniorita." Tuco said. "Esta muy fuerte."

  Ania nodded. "So, we are safe for the time being..."

  "So, we’re here." Callen said as he began allowing his computer applications to provide him with start up directions. He glanced down at Niknak who was twitching and mumbling incoherently. "What the hell is his problem?"

  "No idea." Sarge said. He pulled his roll of duct-tape and began patching his wounds.

  "He said something about failing the master when we were wrestling." Kusari said. "I don't get it. Who is his master?"

  "I don't know." Callen said. "He must answer to someone different than himself considering his breakdown a few days ago and now."

  "Yeah, but who?" Ania asked. "But, I don't think he was trying to stop us, Callen. I think he was trying to stop them." She pointed to the soldiers. "He attacked Kusari."

  Callen shrugged. "I guess he is just crazy."

  "Bind him. In case he wakes up." Sarge said. Kusari and Tuco did so.

  "I don't get it." Kusari said. "This place is said to be mystical. The minions of either the Forger or the Many should be here to greet us..."

  "Once I get this thing going, I guess we should look around," Callen said.

  "Let's move," Sarge said. "I follow your lead, Marked One," He then hoisted Niknak onto his back.

  "Give me a minute." Callen followed the start up directions, which appeared on his goggles, and began pressing buttons, flipping switches and pulling levers. After a few moments, the final start-up button glowed green. "Here it goes." Callen said. "I hope this place doesn't explode from all the years sitting idle..." He took a breath and pressed the button.

  There were some pops, whines, and electronic moans from somewhere deeper into the facility. A few lights flickered and shattered in the room and out in the hall they could see a slow flickering, rather than the constant glow of fluorescent lighting on the cement walls. "Alright, the place is powered. The ventilation system and power the elevators should click on next. The rest, I will have to activate from the main control room."

  "Lead the way," Sarge said.

  The fans and air filters clicked on when enough power had been harnessed. That's when they all smelled it. The room filled with the scent of rotten eggs.

  "The goblins are inside the Domain!" Kusari said nervously. "How did..."

  The sounds of goblin war cries echoed from the floors above them.

  "We don't have time for how yet." Callen cursed. "But, I wouldn't doubt that they are coming for us. I can't access anything more than facility life support controls from here. I can't access the security systems or anything like that. The main computer needs to be rebooted. If we can get to the main control room...I might be able to do something with the security system to take care of the goblins."

  "Let's go there," Sarge said. "Quickly."

  "And we could use the cameras to find the Many," Kusari stated.

  "We better hurry," Ania said as the goblin screams grew closer. "Where is the main control room?"

  "Sublevel 1, we are on sublevel 3. Sublevel 1 is operations control, sublevel 2 is the research labs, and level three is where all the facility equipment needed to keep this place running. Now that they got power, the main control room is where we need to go." Callen said. "There are three emergency access stairwells and two elevators we could use."

  "Any guesses on the best route?" Ania asked. "You do have the maps."

  He marked the location on his wrist computer. "We can use the stairs or the elevators..." The first of the goblins came out of the stairwells screaming. "Elevators it is."

  They charged towards the elevators with Sarge and Tuco laying a suppressing fire. Ania hit the button and the door didn't open. She hit it again and the button lit up. "Hurry up." She screamed at it.

  Callen pulled his pistol and began firing at the incoming goblins. The goblins swarmed, but the elevator opened. "Inside. Now!" He yelled. When everyone was in, he jammed the close door button and some elevator music clicked on. The door started to close.

  A goblin leapt in just before the door shut tackling Sarge. The goblin's foot hit the safety bar in the door and caused it to re-open. He dropped Niknak and his weapon. The next ones started to clog the door preventing it from closing. There were just too many of them. Tuco and Kusari shot and sliced to keep them from flooding the elevator.

  "We gotta move the bodies!" Kusari yelled. Bullets began flying past their heads as the goblin artillery took their positions in the room.

  Callen looked up as he reloaded his gun. “Kusari…we’ll have to climb…get ready.” There was an access panel. He fired four shots destroying the four bolts holding it in place. The panel fell and cracked the goblin on the head that was on top of Sarge. The creature's head busted open and Sarge tossed its lifeless body to the ground while getting to his feet.

  "Nice one." Sarge drew his machete and chopped as he picked up his assault rifle. He began firing with one hand and slicing with the other. "RPG incoming!" Sarge yelled while firing at the goblin rocket propelled grenade launcher in attempt to keep him pinned down.

  "Ania, jump!" Callen boosted her up.

  The RPG whistled forward and luckily, impacted on the wall outside the elevator. The impact shook the elevator.

  With Sarge and Tuco covering the door, Kusari ran up the wall and pulled herself through the panel. "Jump Callen. Ania and I will catch you!" she yelled. Callen jumped and the two of them grabbed his arms and they hoisted him through the elevator's roof.

  Callen pulled his gun and began firing. "Ania, find a way up!" He screamed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her begin to climb a maintenance ladder.

  Sarge tossed Niknak to Kusari giving up the little ground that they had left. "Go!" he hacked off two more goblin heads.

  "Hurry!" Kusari yelled. She attached the unconscious Niknak to her back and began climbing.

  "Senior, vas!" Tuco screamed to Sarge.

  Sarge nodded and leaped for the hole. He pulled his shoulders through as the hiss from the rocket launcher roared over the sounds of battle outside the elevator.

  The RPG buzzed into the elevator hitting Tuco in the chest. The elevator filled with flames. Sarge screamed. Callen fell backward away from the open access panel. Callen had grabbed Sarge's arms before he lost his grip.

  "Callen!" Ania yelled.

  "I'
m fine. Keep climbing." He looked at Sarge, who was heavily damaged. Any flesh on his legs was burnt off, and his electronics were seriously damaged. "Can you climb?"

  "Ah..I have arms." He said.

  With Sarge following, Callen climbed after Kusari and Ania. Below, the goblins begin to pull themselves up the through the panel. "Climb faster!" Callen yelled. Ania reached the top of the three story ladder.

  "The door is closed!" Ania screamed.

  Kusari reached the top and positioned herself on the support beams to begin firing at the climbing goblins with her submachine gun. "Least we have a choke point...and I can keep them pinned...but, my bullets aren't going to last for ever..."

  Callen reached Ania and hung onto the ladder with one arm. He looked at the back of the elevator control button. "I can run a bypass." He exposed the wire with his knife and began hot-wiring the locking mechanism.

  "Hurry up!" She had scored two more hits before her weapon jammed. She swore and threw her gun down the shaft. It hit the closest goblin to Sarge.

  "Got it." Callen crossed the wires and the door opened and the sibling climbed in.

  "Sarge, hurry!" Kusari yelled as she tossed Niknak over their heads into the room.

  Ania backed into the room to give Kusari room as Callen fired to cover Sarge.

  The goblin climbed through with the RPG.

  "Sarge, jump!" Callen yelled. He activated his targeting system, and with a thought the goggles began making the targeting calculations to hit the RPG goblin. He fired. The bullet ripped through his eye. He fell on his stomach, reveling his backpack full of rockets. Callen took aim at the rocket launcher itself once it fell. If he could hit it right it would trigger the loaded rocket, but the shot was going to be difficult, even with his computer.

  "Jump!" Kusari yelled to Sarge. "I'll catch you."

  Sarge was all muscle and metal. He tightened his arms and pulled up hard putting forth an inhuman amount of power propelling him the final four feet to grab Kusari's hands, however, the goblins were on him.

  The closest one leaped on his broken legs and began climbing by digging its sharp claws into Sarge's crispy flesh. He screamed and jerked his body like a bronco knocking the creature off his back. It grabbed onto his useless legs. Sarge let go with one of his hands and grabbed his machete.

  "I need both hands to get you up!" Kusari yelled.

  He pulled the machete as a second goblin grabbed his legs. Ania grabbed Kusari to prevent her from falling.

  "Do it!" Sarge ordered. "Do it, now!"

  Callen's bullet hit the rocket launcher and ricocheted. He swore and took aim again as another goblin grabbed onto Sarge's legs. Callen took aim again, but the angle was bad. He cursed.

  Sarge stuck his machete through his abdomen into his spine. He screamed as he continued to cut.

  "Hold tight, Kusari. Just for a second." Ania had mumbled something about sylphs and salamanders before she tossed her grenade. "I knew this would be useful."

  "Yeah!" Noting Ania's whispers, Callen watched the grenade fall.

  Sarge's lower half broke free and Kusari pulled him in.

  For a frag grenade, the explosion was a bit too intense, and the flames started a chain reaction. The rockets exploded jostling the elevator and the goblins on the ladder were tossed. With the fire rising, Callen hit the close button and the door slammed shut.

  The door shook and then there was silence. Callen took a deep breath and stared at the elevator door. "Wow." He looked at Ania and grinned. He knew she had done something with her abilities and he was happy she did. He didn't say anything more.

  "Sarge, you alright?" Kusari said.

  "I need a vacation." He stated looking down at his missing lower half of his body. There was a good deal of blood, but there were no vital organs hanging out. The blood was just from a layer of skin over his metal parts. His spine wasn't cut. It looked like it was designed to plug into something.

  "What the...how?" Callen asked.

  "My arms and everything below my ribs is all robot." He said. "My vital organs are above. My skin just grew over it all."

  "Lucky you," Callen shook his head.

  Sarge looked at Kusari. "Thanks for not dropping me. I owe you one."

  "What the hell is that thing?" Ania asked. She pointed at one of two six and a half foot tall robots built from plastic and metal. One was lying on a workbench and the other was plugged into a portable power station on the wall and completely inactive. The status screen next to the plugged in one read charge complete. Both were badly damaged, but functional and armed with large belt fed machine guns.

  "I didn't see anything about robots in the files..." Callen said.

  "I'm glad they are off," Kusari said. "That would have been a nice surprise if they weren't."

  "No doubt." Callen agreed.

  The room was a wreck and had three doors. There were overturned tables and equipment piled up to form some sort of hastily assembled defensive wall around one large door. The second door was barricaded and the third was welded shut. Near the robot, and behind the defense wall, charging docks sat next to repair tables with welding supplies and all sorts of extra parts to repair the robots.

  "We safe here?" Kusari asked staring at the bodies. "I can't hear any goblin cries."

  Callen looked at his map. "Wow, that's convenient," Callen said. "The welded door and the equipment blocked door seal this place up tight. The only way in or out is the elevator or maybe the air ducts. But looking at the schematics for the air ducts, you would need some serious climbing equipment or a lot of time to climb up them. The fans in them are running now too, so, I guess we are pretty safe."

  "Good, but I don't think we should stay put for long," Ania said. "Now, where is this control room?"

  "Agreed," Callen replied. The control room is through the non-barricaded door." Callen pointed at the door. "I guess they were trying to defend it from whoever was attacking."

  "Well, open it up," Sarge said. "We have to get control of this place."

  "Get going, Marked One." Kusari looked at the robot on the table. "Sarge, do you think we can hook you into that robot?"

  He nodded. "Do what you need to, Marked One. Kusari and I will get me mobile again."

  She lifted Sarge onto the workbench and picked up a welding mask. "Here we go."

  Sarge nodded. "Let's do my arms too." He said with a large smile staring at the duel Gatling guns strapped to the security robot's arms.

  Callen pushed opened the door into the control room. He powered up the computer system and the various monitors that hung from the walls began to buzz to life. The screens glowed with Biocore's corporate symbols as the system booted. He cursed when he saw how decimated the computer system was. It was nearly unusable.

  He ran a diagnostic program to see what he could repair quickly. There wasn't much. He activated the basic support systems that weren't automatic, like water system and lights. He linked the controls to his wrist computer so he could them access them remotely. Some work had been done to prevent damage to the security system, so he started there. He managed to debug the security system in a few minutes and access the command history, and activated the security system's restore function.

  "What happened here?" Ania asked as she peered over his shoulder. "This place has to record something..."

  "Yeah, sorry this place has been ravaged. Whatever happened to the records in this system didn't completely destroy everything. So, I think I might be able to piece together some explanation." He brought up the access history to the last recorded date. "What the hell?" He asked.

  "What's wrong?" Ania asked.

  "Someone was here a few months ago and accessed the system," Callen said. He flipped through more of the files. "But, the only trace is that whatever they did was w
iped clean. Whoever was able to do that to this system has some serious computer capabilities. I don't think I could reverse it if I had a year...I thought this place was sealed."

  "Obviously not, considering the goblins," Ania said. "What about before then?"

  "Nothing for 10 years. The last file that remains is dated the day Dad disappeared." He read further into the access/command history. "There are some files attached to that date, but most are wrecked. There are some partial security recordings that I can get to run though." Callen brought them up. They were incredibly choppy. The computer flashed images of gremlins escaping from the research rooms and attacking facility personnel. The recording blinked on and off with only the sounds of gunfire and static remaining.

  "Why can't we see anything?" Ania asked.

  "The images are 10 years old, but they shouldn't degrade. It's stored digitally. So, I don't know what's wrong exactly, but the system itself is barely working. Let me check the text logs for some clues, but my gut says some sort of virus. But I don't know of anything that could destroy a network this bad." He brought up the files. "According to these logs, the facilities computer system was infected with a virus that the system's software wasn't able to defend against. It looks like the virus knew exactly where to strike to rip this place a part and control whatever it needed. The attack was perfect. Much better than anything I could ever do, and that's saying a lot."

  "That doesn't sound good..."

  "Not at all, especially because the code is written in alchemy symbols..."

  "Like the code you saw at our apartment?"

  "Yeah, exactly," Callen said.

  "I don't like this."

  "Me either," Callen said. The repair function finished on the security system. "That's odd, there is no virus left in the system."

  "That's good, right?"

  "Yeah, that means I can get at least some basic security running to help deal with the goblins." He shook his head with confusion and began entering command codes to power up the security robots and cameras. "It is just odd though. There is nothing about reformatting the network, loading advanced anti-virus software or anything like that."

  "Maybe whoever was here a few months ago took the virus out?" Ania asked.

  "No, I don't think so. Because the last trace of the virus was the same day that Dad disappeared."

  "Maybe Dad did something. Can you see what happened before the virus?" Ania asked.

  He brought up what he could. Some images of gremlins being pushed down the hallway on operation tables and scientists walking through the halls popped up, but nothing more detailed than that. He sighed. "All the files for what happened in the labs were corrupted. But this whole mess started with the cyber-attack."

  "But from who? The knights themselves barely know this place exists, the gremlins think its some Garden of Eden, and the goblins don't seem to want to be friends with anybody."

  "No idea, but the computer network is closed. So, it had to come from some inside connection." Callen continued flipping through programs until he found the ones that controlled all the facility defenses. "But, that isn't what disturbs me. There is no trace of the virus except the text log and the wake of damage it left. The antivirus software didn't take care of it. It is just gone almost like..."

  "An electronic poltergeist."

  "Exactly. A smart one. Who had minions."

  "Let me get everything set up so we can do some exploring." He said. "I'd say we have some questions to answer." He programed the robots to remove goblins, which was already one of the defense protocol presets. He programed them to ignore humans and gremlins. Out of a possible thirty defense robots, only ten were functional and all were heavily damaged. Six were on level two and the rest were split between one and three. The second one on level one was about to be taken apart so that left nine total. Callen synced his wrist computer with the security system to monitor the robots.

  Within a few minutes, he had them activated and selected a clean sweep function that was designed to secure compromised sections. He activated the security cameras that weren't destroyed over the years to find that most of them were in terrible shape. Their lenses were coated with dust and grime. Shadows of goblins moving in the halls could be seen on the monitors.

  Outside the room, the robots activated. The robot rolled towards the working elevator and soon descended into the lower levels of the facility. "Guess we give the robots sometimes," Callen said.

  Ania nodded. "Hopefully we can fix Sarge in the meantime."

  They headed back into the room and he joined Kusari in hooking Sarge into the robotic legs. Kusari had disconnected the robot's legs, pushed its torso onto the floor, and started the basic wiring.

  "I thought you didn't know how to do the mechanical integration stuff," Callen said.

  "Any gremlin can do the mechanical and electrical stuff. That's easy. We would be long dead if only a few of us could jury rig technology. It is when you mix the biology, computers, machines and how they communicate with each other that it gets complicated. So, you are going to need to do some quick programing to get everything working right."

  Callen nodded and attached his computer to Sarge as the sounds of gunfire could be heard beneath their feet.

  "How intelligent are goblins?" Ania asked.

  Sarge shrugged. "They are fierce like their demon ancestors. They were made to be expendable soldiers by demons, not thinkers. They are not one for strategy, unless there is a sorcerer or greater demon to lead them."

  "Like the one with the staff," Ania asked. "And according to the lore, goblin sorcerers can augment their power by sacrificing innocents to create a redcap. Or in his case, a red-hood. I think that was the ritual they were performing when we snuck in."

  "Yeah," Kusari said.

  "So, expect strategy. Got it." Callen said. "Hey, wasn't Grandpa searching for a sorcerer?"

  "Yeah, he was, one that uses pestilent magic." Ania sighed.

  "Could the goblin sorcerer use fire and plague?" Callen asked.

  "I don't know...maybe...it depends on the demon providing the magic," Ania answered. "And as far as goblins go, they don't have the greatest capacity for magic...at least, as far as I know..."

  "So, you mean magic runs out?" Sarge asked. "You know, like ammo?"

  Ania nodded. "It's fueled by rituals...and more powerful spells take more from the sorcerer."

  "The energy has to come from somewhere..." Callen shrugged. "Any clue on when it would run out and need to refuel?"

  Ania shook her head. "I'd need to research the name of the demon they worship to have any clue about the specifics...but, the redcap thing might change it.”

  Callen nodded. "Probably makes it more powerful and have a higher capacity. Otherwise, why else would you bother conducting an elaborate ritual? But, any idea how common a goblin sorcerer is? Let alone a redcap."

  "It is rare. It requires a lot of blood sacrifice to the redcap tribe's patron demon and years of devotion." Kusari said. "Last time we saw one was when they took Forgeholm from us, and that might be the one we saw earlier...the one that became a redcap."

  "Think the bodies we saw all over Forgeholm would be enough?" Callen asked.

  Kusari shrugged. "I wish I knew, but it isn't exactly easy to study goblin culture...I mean if you want...you could probably go ask..."

  "Thanks...but no thanks...I don't care enough about the inner workings of their society...I just want them out of our way." Callen stated.

  "Do any of you know anything about the sorcerer's magic that took Forgeholm from you?" Ania asked. "You know...like in a myth or story?"

  "No..." Kusari sighed. "We don't have anything written down...we were in chaos back then...and most of our people grew up after. There’re many stories. So, which is right I'm not sure...though, some of the
stories give him sickness powers, fire powers...mind control...it depends on who's telling it."

  "Yeah, well...you could have added the sickness powers because of the suffering of your people," Ania said. "You know, to have someone to blame..."

  "Well, either way it doesn't matter." Callen sighed. "It looks like we have a redcap sorcerer with hellfire and possibly plague magic...and maybe even more to deal with...what should we do about it?"

  "Kill him...he must be the plague's source," Sarge said. "In one mighty blow we will avenge Tuco and Nikolai, cure our people, and take the first step in retaking Forgeholm."

  "Sounds good," Kusari said. "But, let's get you moving again first."

  "Speaking of the mission, Callen, the girl that the sorcerer sacrificed to make his redcap..." Ania paused. "She was one of the girls that Bracket is holding captive."

  "You mean..." Sarge stated as he used his arms to sit up.

  "I think Bracket may be allied with the goblins," Ania said. "Or at least negotiating them."

  "Maybe that's why our journey here was so easy..." Kusari said.

  "Easy?" Callen scoffed. "You call that easy? You got stomped, and you call that easy?"

  "Princess Sprocket did say that every military action beyond Tiremound were thwarted by goblins as if they new her soldiers were coming..." Ania pointed out. "So, there must be something going on here that kept us alive and give us time. She's crafty like that."

  Sarge shook his head in denial. "Bracket wouldn't have betrayed us." He sighed. "As for General Sprocket...I don't think that makes no sense, we would have seen many more fresh bodies of gremlins coming in..."

  "Maybe, it was Virette?" Ania suggested. "Sprocket said Bracket and Virette were both somehow involved with the kidnap victims..."

  "She would never deal with goblins," Kusari said in a dismissive tone. "This is absurd."

  "This's speculation anyway," Callen said. "Let's worry about gremlin politics after we get out of this place alive. Shall we?"

  Callen finished modifying the last bit of firmware that Sarge needed to control his new limbs. Kusari turned her attention to the rest of the robot and began stripping the armor from it so we could attach it to Sarge. She managed to salvage a chest plate, large metal shoulder guards, and she tuned the head into a helmet. She put them on while looking very proud of herself and then attached the large ammo drum for the two guns.

  Once he stood up. He clenched his fists and the two Gatling guns spun on his wrists. He grinned from beneath the helmet made out of the defense robot's skull.

  "That's definitely you," Callen said smiling.

  "I'm back." He said. "Now, let's do what we came to do. You lead, Marked One."

  Callen took a deep breath and began looking over the map. "Alright..." Callen started nervously at the realization that he was to take over leadership. "I didn't see anything that points to what we're hear for on the cameras, so..."

  "To hell with these gods," Sarge said. "This is all made of bullshit, all of it. They sent us to a meat grinder, for nothing! This place isn't holy...it is just like some of the other places we have stolen equipment from! We just need to kill that sorcerer and all of it will be over!"

  "Blasphemy!" Kusari snarled.

  "Actually, that might be so," Ania said. "Look at how this has turned out so far."

  "Yeah...I agree...but we should go to my dad's office, either way." Callen said. "I just hope Bracket doesn't kill or trade any more of the children before we get back."

  "There has to be some explanation. Maybe giving the goblins the child was a false peace offering to help catch the goblins off guard or a decoy to pull their attention from us?" Sarge asked. "Things will change when everyone learns the goblins have desecrated the domain."

  Ania nodded. "It will unite your people further...but, who traded that child?"

  "We won't get those answers sitting here." Callen pointed out. "So, lets go see what we can find. If we find it's all bullshit...we find an exit and kill the sorcerer on the way out...hopefully, that's the cure for your plague."

  "How are the robots doing?" Kusari asked.

  Callen looked at his wrist computer. "It looks like the security bots have pushed the goblins towards a giant hole in the wall. It looks like someone drilled through."

  "What? You mean the goblins didn't get through with magic or using a door?" Kusari asked.

  "No, there is some large drilling equipment that the goblins are using for cover against the robots," Callen explained.

  "Maybe it was whoever accessed the computer a few months ago?" Ania asked.

  "How could someone just drill into the tomb of a god?" Kusari asked. "This place is magic." She looked like she had a hard time dealing with what was going on around her.

  "They do it all the time on the surface when people are studying ancient cultures. The cultures thought their tombs were magic too." Ania said. "Like the Egyptians."

  "We can discuss archeology later," Callen said. "I don't know how much time we have until the goblins destroy the robots. We gotta get moving."

  "Kusari, carry the Prophet," Sarge said motioning with his head towards the unconscious Niknak on his back who was starting to stir. His electric blue eye blinked faster. The muttering started again.

  Kusari looked like she was in another world for a second until Sarge bumped her. "Alright." She said reluctantly and hoisted him onto her back. "I got him."

  They took the elevator to the second level. The elevator opened and revealed a hallway with all sorts of bones decorating the walls and skulls lining the edge of the floor. Bone torches lit the hallway. The decorations didn't look like they had been here very long, and there were sections of the hall that were still waiting to be decorated. It looked to Callen as though the goblins had just recently moved in.

  The robots had done a good job of clearing the goblins out and there were several fresh bodies lying around. The place reeked of sulfur and there were splatter marks of the goblin's yellow blood everywhere.

  They rounded a corner and found a bunch of recently dead human bodies piled next to an electronic door. The partially eaten bodies were dressed in construction clothes.

  "That one has a Nextigen name tag, Callen. That's the company Dr. James' son works for." Ania said as she knelt down beside a recently dead human body. "Why would they be here? Do you think..."

  "I have no idea, but I suppose its possible that they broke in here last. But, I don't know. This is just getting weirder." He said. "Let's get out of here as soon as possible."

  "After we find your cure," Ania whispered, as the resumed walking down the hall.

  "Yeah," He said.

  Kusari stared at the electronic door. "Wait! I remember this." She hit the open button on the door's control panel. It flashed access denied. "Marked one, can you?" She asked.

  Callen nodded and tore open the access panel. He connected it to his computer and he hacked the lock. The control panel flashed access granted and the door hissed open. She stepped inside. They all followed, except for Sarge, who guarded the door.

  The room was full of tanks each filled with some green liquid, but the layers of dust resting on them prevent them from seeing anything more. High on the left wall there was a giant window and around the entire room was a series of catwalks. There were stairs going up in the far left corner. There were hundreds of tanks that went up about two stories. Above there was a series of large robotic arms hanging from the ceiling.

  Ania walked over to the closest one and wiped the dust off the glass. The light in the tank then turned on and she squealed in horror. Inside, floating in the liquid was a gremlin that was missing half of its face and all its limbs except a single arm. The creatures face was locked in a perpetual grimace. She backed away. "Oh my god! That's...a deformed changeling! It was
grown without parts of its body!" She looked at Kusari. "Then they added..." She glanced at Kusari's electronic parts. Horror spread across Ania's face. "I really don't like this place." On a display below the tank, the vitals were shown. The creature had died on the Christmas Eve almost ten years ago.

  "My memories are blotchy, but I remember coming through the door in agony and then the cold came," Kusari said with a look of terror. She shook her head. "After the cold there was nothing but black."

  "Bad, bad! No grow room! No freeze." Niknak said as he stirred. He struggled in his bonds causing Kusari to drop him. They held tight and he hit the ground hard.

  "We were grown?" Kusari asked sounding horrified as she noticed work benches lining the walls with numbered schematics for robotic parts matching the missing parts of the floating correspondingly numbered changeling corpses in the tank.

  "That's what it seems, probably from spliced and engineered from changeling DNA," Callen said, looking at the schematics that were laminated in browning plastic. "Along with being placed in some kind of suspended animation." He stopped when he noticed the battery schematic. The gremlins all had the same power system..."

  "Is that even possible?" Ania asked.

  "Theoretically, yeah both...but there are a lot of issues that still need to be worked out for genetic engineering this advanced or suspended animation. And I mean a lot. I doubt even Felix or Dr. Brewer could pull it off."

  "But...I thought...I don't know if I can handle this..." Kusari shook her head. She started breathing heavy. "We were...we were molded in his image..."

  "Test build." Niknak muttered. "Experiment."

  "Deal with it later. Come on." Callen said. "I need you to help me, like you said you would. We need to go to my dad's lab. Maybe we will find something there that will answer your questions. Keep it together, Kusari."

  She nodded. "Yeah, got it."

  "I hope Dad had nothing to do with this..." Ania said.

  "Master no make alone," Niknak said. "Master and others grow all of the first gremlins."

  "Who is your master?" Ania asked. "Bracket? Virette? Or...The Many?"

  He looked hard at her and then stared at Callen. He twitched. "No Many....no Bracket...no Virette...Master...be..." He twitched. "Mast...is....forg...Thorne." He collapsed into convulsions.

  Callen shook his head in confusion. "It didn't make sense. My dad couldn't be Niknak's master anymore. Niknak was trying to kill me! He has to be lying. There was just no way!"

  Outside the room, Sarge's gun fired. "We better move!" He called.

  Kusari picked up the twitching Niknak and they exited the tank room. Six dead goblins lay at Sarge's feet. "I think I like this upgrade." He said.

  "Stragglers?" Ania asked.

  Callen checked the video feed. "The robots are losing ground, we don't have much time. We have four left. I guess some got passed" Then he saw the goblin sorcerer with the redcap wander forward on the screen and lift his hand. Fire poured forth from his hand igniting the robot. A robot exploded a few seconds later in the image. "Ok...three...we better hurry."