Tarek followed Nicolette down the dormitory wing in the Creation Lab, her footsteps quiet against the spongy floor. He didn't bother to change, even when Nicolette insisted, not wanting to waste any more time. His suit worked, all he needed. But when she offered him access to her weapons cache, he took the few moments to raid her stash, arming himself with as much firepower as he could carry.
Finally, she stopped at a door in the middle of the never-ending corridor and pulled Avery's override key from her belt, swiping it across the access panel. As soon as the door opened, he swooped in.
The Guide, Christoph, waited for them, already notified by Avery. Sleep still filled his eyes and his wrinkled robes suggested he hadn't bothered to change, but he was calm. "Greetings, Protectors."
Tarek went to him, wanting to fall at his feet, thank him. "What you're doing... I can never repay you."
Christoph stood, his dark face glowing with passion. "I will do anything I can to stop the devastation Cassondra has perpetuated over the past thirty years. And I am honored to aid such a brave Guide as Lena Mi."
Who were these people? Avery, Nicolette, this Guide? All of them went against Exemplian norm, an underground horde of people who were still human. Lena knew. All this time, she knew individuals like them existed here–and she never told him.
Nicolette went to the door. "You can open a portal in the room. They don't bother expending resources on blocking this wing." She gave the Guide an admiring smile. "Thank you, Christoph." She then faced him. "We'll be watching, Tarek. If you fail..."
"I'll give the signal."
"Right. Okay, then. Good luck." She left before he could say another word.
Tarek turned to Christoph. "This may be impossible." An understated way to tell him death was a probable outcome.
"I've survived impossible odds before, young man." He held up his hands. "I've lived four lives here, after all."
Respect swelled inside of him. This Guide had more courage than most Protectors he knew. "I wish I would've known people like you existed." He sighed. "I wish Lena would've told me."
"Well, from having the privilege of knowing her for the better part of ten years, I assure you that she protects you as much as you protect her."
Tarek raised his free hand in the air, moving his other to hook under Christoph's arm. As the tear ripped open, he said, "Maybe one day she'll explain exactly what she protects me from."
His portal brought them into the same burned-out building where he and Lena first landed. The man he had killed still lay in the rubble, his blood spattered against the cement blocks he fell on. The one person he protected Lena from in this world–the only person. Tarek forced his gaze away, keeping his grief locked tight. Now was the time to save her, not mourn her.
"Where do we go from here, Protector?"
Tarek peered at Christoph, the man as calm as bathwater. "The satellite feed showed him in the streets, but..." He looked toward the broken window when yelling and shouted commands drew closer. "Ajax knows we're here."
"Well, then. I suppose I should keep myself hidden." Christoph moved behind Tarek, bringing himself as close to the humming suit as possible. Even with the noise coming closer, the Guide remained stalwart. No shaking, no panic, nothing. "Won't do any good if I died, would it?"
Tarek unholstered his weapon. "You're an anomaly, Guide."
As soon as the words left his mouth, shots fired into the building. In seconds, Andorians littered the space, leaking in from cracks and nooks like insects. Tarek met the bastards shot for shot while keeping Christoph protected with his body. Bullets bounced off his suit, the force of them barely registering. Bodies fell as Tarek moved backward, the Guide right behind him until they were flush with the rusted vehicle. Some Andorians smiled, Tarek's cornered position giving them confidence.
Their mistake.
Tarek dropped his gun and pulled one of the weapons he had taken from Nicolette out of its holster. Without missing a beat, he engaged the flamethrower as big as his palm, sending waves of fire, charring bodies instantly. Human ash covered every surface, coating his skin, but men kept coming in, sacrificing themselves. Burning flesh stung Tarek's nose, making his eyes water, as he continued to send flames into the crowd of dirty, unkempt men. The fire ate body after body while Tarek scanned the area, waiting for Ajax to bring his cowardly ass into the building.
Only after the floor was thick with incinerated death did the Warden show his face, arrogant with confidence. Ajax didn't even flinch while viewing the carnage, his people's energies billowing from their remains to slam into his chest. Shrieks from terrified Andorians blew into the building with the stale breeze, the pleas of "Kill the demon!" and "The Devil has risen" loud and desperate.
Tarek flicked the weapon onto cooling mode and doused the area with a few more shots until the fire died down, the chanting a nauseating background. He ignored it and dropped the flamethrower, pulling out yet another firearm, aiming it at Ajax's forehead. No advanced weapon with soul-stealing bullets this time. Tarek held an antique gun with lead bullets; one Nicolette had hanging on her wall for display. He didn't need anything else. "Give her to me."
Ajax crossed his arms, his chuckle scratching Tarek's brain. "And if I don't?"
Tarek centered his target between Ajax's eyes. "Then your people will witness what a demon can really do."
The chuckle turned into a guffaw. "You can't kill me! Have you not been paying attention? I'm a Warden, you daft bastard."
Tarek sneered, his finger desperately wanting to pull the trigger. "No. You're an Exemplian."
Christoph shuddered, moving in closer as soon as Tarek revealed the largest bomb in his arsenal. The Guide gave his first genuine show of nerves. Truth had that kind of power.
Ajax's laughing stopped, his throat working with swallow after swallow. "Aren't you a clever one?"
"Release her. Now." Tarek's aim was steady, his resolve absolute.
He'd kill him. If the man refused him, he'd put a bullet in his head. Avery had Nicolette waiting to collect Christoph–with Lena's energy if Tarek became the Warden. Her satellite feed directed to the Warden's building, watching everything. Whatever happened, Lena would leave this place.
Ajax tilted his head, recovering with expertise. "Would you really kill me, Protector?" He waved a flippant hand around the death and embers, then to the screaming and desperate people. "This world will eat away any humanity you have left."
Sweat dripped from Tarek's scalp, mingling with Lena's blood he had refused to wash off. "What's left of my humanity you have." He cocked the gun. "I won't ask again."
Ajax's eyes widened. "This show for one simple Guide? A troublemaker, at that?"
"Yes."
Ajax took a step closer, pulling off his gloves.
Not this time. Not ever again. "I'll shoot you before you have the chance to lift a finger."
The Warden stopped, respect lighting his eyes. He studied Tarek for a few moments longer, and said, "Perhaps I should have chosen my Exemplian cohorts wiser. Well played, Protector." He shrugged. "You can have the girl. I've no wish to keep her."
Just like that.
Thankfully, just like that.
"But let me assure you." Ajax gave a knowing smile. "You haven't saved her. You've only prolonged the inevitable. She has angered the wrong people."
A shiver traced Tarek's spine, but he shook it off, never dropping his gun. The Warden's omen wouldn't get inside him.
Christoph moved from behind Tarek, only to sit in the muck of the dead. He had no other options. "Shall I collect her, then?"
"Oh, please do, Guide." Ajax's ugly chortle filled the room as he moved toward Christoph and held up his hand, his palm glowing green. "She is too difficult to hold onto, anyway. Bothersome woman."
Tarek's resolve almost disappeared with the desire to go to the man's palm. But all he moved was his target to the back of the Warden's head. As flip as Ajax acted, he wanted to die no more than Tarek wanted to be Warden.
Christ
oph had no issues with separating his energy from his body. His golden light bounced in front of Ajax, who released Lena's energy without so much as a blink. As soon as her light collided with Christoph's, the melded energies slipped into the Guide's open mouth. Christoph would hold her inside and keep her safe until they reached the Creation Lab.
In less than a second, Christoph awoke and Tarek went to his side, careful not to show his relief, his gun still pointed at Ajax. He then held his free hand to the Guide, who unceremoniously accepted it.
Ajax tipped his head. "I wish I could say it's been a pleasure."
Tarek had nothing else to say to the man, letting the portal pull them through.
They landed in the same place he brought Lena's body–in the middle of the Creation Lab's communal office. Only this time drones didn't watch him with stunned expressions. They dashed into action, anticipating his return.
Some whisked Christoph away, leading him to the same rebirthing room where Lena's body now healed. He had no idea how they'd fix her, make her whole, but he had faith in Avery. She'd been bringing Exemplians back for centuries.
His muscles no longer fueled with adrenaline, Tarek sagged to the floor, not giving a damn that his filth sullied the white desk he leaned against. He covered his face, trying to hold it all in, not break again. The effort proved impossible.
He sobbed, expelling all his fear. She was safe now. Avery would repair her, and she'd come back to him. He'd mend her heart, fill the void rebirthing caused, and beg her forgiveness.
He'd give her everything.
"Protector."
A whispery touch reached past the fog, and he uncovered his face.
Avery sat beside him, a serene smile on her lips. "I will take care of her now, I promise you."
He laughed then because crying would no longer do. To her surprised yelp, Tarek pulled Avery into his filthy arms and held her tight. "Thank you, Avery."
She sniffled against his chest, right there in front of all her underlings, letting him hug her. "She's special, unique. We all need her."
Yes, yes, they did.
They sat there, him stroking her hair as Nicolette focused on her Guide, pride gleaming in her eyes.
Finally, Avery said, "If she chooses to work for the ERP again, we will need you to extend your Pairing into her next life. You must–"
"No." He kept his arms around her when she tried to move away. Lena would choose to come back, he knew her, but she wouldn't be coming back to him. He wasn't strong enough. "I won't be her Protector again."
"If not, then who? She needs someone strong, someone who can keep her safe."
"I know." He smiled and released her so that he could look her in the eyes. "Maybe you can help me."
When he told her his plan, she beamed. "I can most definitely arrange that, but be prepared to beg."
Tarek closed his eyes and again slouched against the desk, his relief a heady drug. "I'm not afraid of a little groveling."