Chapter 52: Hope and Fear II

  “Do you think it is as big as a deal, as she made it sound like?” Achara asked lying on Kou’s bed who played in her hair. Until the start of the expedition they had nothing to do and they were hanging out together in the “boys” room. “If things work out, yes. The monoliths showed up only 20 years ago but it is likely that the orks had them for centuries and maybe longer. Even if they are a primitive civilization they might posses knowledge we do not have. Like what this is all about? Who is behind it? Information about classes and maybe they know other worlds with advanced societies.” Marcus said enthusiastically while eating the last of his chips before Janette could steal them.

  “Besides that, just observing another intelligent humanoid species can give us insight about our selves, I mean humanity. Their history, culture, religion all of that can give us important information too.” Kou pointed out. “What makes you think they are going to share with us? And to what price? Would you tell a stranger all your secrets and knowledge? Even if this works out, it might take years before we hear anything relevant.” Janette totally killed the mood and was punished with a pillow to the face. Marcus knew she had a point but hope was, it was worth the risk they were taking.

  On the next day the expedition started. They stepped through the portal early in the morning and arrived on a late afternoon. There was a sizable base on this side of the portal and more than that. As they passed by the gates of the base Marcus spotted something akin to a small village and industrial buildings. This was a colony no doubt about that.

  Their journey ahead was long, they had to cross over two planets and portals to get to the planet of the orks. At least the total distance was only a bit less than 500 km and most of it was here on the first world. Their convoy was made up of giant trucks and buses like the one they had used before and the path to the first portal was well known. 8 hours and 400 km later they reached the second portal and here the journey really began.

  The portal was much smaller, too small for the vehicle and they had to continue on foot. They stepped through the portal, with the security team in front, and entered a hot, wet jungle. “From here on out we will move in the predetermined order. Everybody take your places.” Ms. Taylor gave orders and their team moved to the back of the caravan. The route to the next portal was across a heavily forested area on this scarcely explored planet, that had been categorized as level 2. But that did not mean a lot, given the sparse information they had, Marcus thought.

  If everything worked out they would need three to four days for this part of the journey. But Marcus doubted it would go so smoothly. They had over twenty security personnel and about twice that number of scientists. The chance something would go wrong with so many people was high. “Somewhat odd that we got placed at the back.” Kou said. “Why?” Janette asked stepping over a large root. “Because in a situation with a large convoy like this you want to put your most experienced and capable people at the back. Not your lowest level beginner squad.” Kou explained and Marcus agreed to an extent. He did not think they were a beginner squad anymore.

  The mystery was solved shortly after when Ms. Taylor with her personal team joined them in the back and Marcus realized they were put here to be in view range of the leader. She keeps an eye on us, he thought.

  The trek was slow, the scientists were not famed for their physical abilities, even so the class holders helped them wherever they could. Marcus observed Ms. Taylor helping several times, not caring about her rank or position. “She seems to be the real thing.” Achara said walking next to Marcus and he nodded. The media loved to hype her, but in person she seemed to be a smart and dependable leader, which improved Marcus' mood a lot. We will need a level headed person in charge once we get there, he thought. Thanks to Light Soul (their second ability) Paladins made great raid leaders in general. Not only does this ability prevent all matter of mental status effects it also stops you from panicking in general. Paladin’s are known to be cool headed.

  They slowly moved through the dense vegetation that made scouting very difficult. Two hours went by without incident but shouting and the sound of combat suddenly came from the front of the convoy and the commander and her team quickly charged towards the source of the commotion. Marcus could hear her calm voice in the com line and listen to the reports of an attack. Colors of the Wild held their position, guarding the back. Marcus watched the jungle but also had one eye on Janette, if somebody would spot something it was her.

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  Half a minute went by and they still could hear sounds of combat as Janette suddenly raised her rifle and shot into the jungle. “They are in the trees, looking like monkeys from hell.” Was her short comment and the rest moved up to protect the civilians. Janette continued firing and soon Marcus could see movement in the trees above. Several large bodies moved over the branches and jumped right into their ranks. One large beast turned unnaturally in its fall and smashed against a close by tree and fell down lifeless, Kou’s action blunted the initial attack. “First priority is to protect the civilians.” Marcus shouted and engaged the closest beast.

  Now that the thing was in front of him he realized they were much larger than he first thought. Monkey was the wrong word, gorilla was better, add in glowing red eyes, a stone like face with metal tusks and you got really close.

  The monster smashed a black furred fist down on Marcus who used Anchor to take the hit and prepared to counter. The impact was painful and before he could act the powerful finger of the mega ape grabbed his shoulder and it pulled itself to Marcus, biting in his other shoulder with its savage teeth. He did not hesitate and before the monster could close its powerful jaws fully he smashed his fist and knee in quick succession into the attacker. Impulse Hammer drove it back and it staggered. This was more than enough time for Marcus to follow up and deliver two fatal blows to its head. The monster sank to the ground with a shattered skull.

  As soon as it fell Marcus turned to take note of the situation. Achara had just felled another monster and Kou held one in the air while Janette stood next to two corpses aiming into the treetops. Another wave of attackers came down the trees, Achara supported Kou against another attacker, but one horror gorilla charged right by them, aiming for several civilians in the back row.

  Marcus ran and ordered “lift” over the com. A second later he felt lighter and he jumped right on the back of the wild beast. He landed and put his arm around its throat, while it tried to throw him off. He also wrapped his legs around the waist of the monster and it turned and smashed his back against a tree. Marcus felt a few ribs crack but he did not let go, instead he placed his other hand on the back of the gorilla monster and field tested Jack Hammer. Marcus quickly pushed half a dozen red orbs of energy down his arm and the giant ape shook with every impact, its legs and arms gave out and it was dead before it reached the ground.

  Marcus dismounted his unwilling horse and looked around for more trouble but the last of the monsters ran into the jungle. “Status report.” Marcus said over com and everybody was there, unharmed. The civilians looked frightened but nobody got hurt. The team got back into position and waited until the sounds of combat from the front vanished. Ms. Taylor gave the all clear sign and they allowed themselves to relax. Shortly after, Grace Taylor and her team returned to the back of the convoy and Marcus reported to her.

  The ambush at the front had been brutal and they had lost two security members and one scientist. Now Grace looked around the carnage at the back and nine giant apes lay dead around the team of Fighter Marcus Freimann. “Any loses or injuries?” She looked at the large, young man who had blood on his shoulders but did not seem fazed at all. “No loses and no injuries.” he said and Grace nodded. Many more had attacked at the front and that without warning, but still. Carmen had not been overselling them at all, they are dependable and capable, Grace thought.

  “Yeah, level up.” the blond woman of the team, Janette was it?, exclaimed. Grace looked at her and the corpses around her had precise holes in their heads, throats and chests. “Very good work.” Grace said and gave the order to continue the march.

  As they moved on, Grace watched the large Mr. Freimann talking with his companions. He did not look wounded but there was definitely blood on his armor and it was not from the apes. He could not have healed this quickly. Did he use some kind of Alchemist potion? But it could have been only minutes since the attack and even top level potions do not work this fast.

  She would keep an eye on him, actually the whole squad. There was something very strange about them, by conventional wisdom they should not be this strong. She had been at the front and had not seen them fight, next time she would stay close to them if possible.

  Janette watched Ms. Taylor returning to her own squad and talking to her team members. “You can’t hide your healing ability for long Marcus. Any idea what you are going to do when Ms. Taylor or the others find out?” she asked her tall friend. Marcus thought about it for a few minutes “I will tell the truth. That it is the third ability of the Fighter class. I will not reveal how potent it is if I can help it.” he said and added “It will eventually become public, Kim warned me about that.”. Janette listened and nodded as if in deep thoughts, “Will we still be best friends, when you become famous?” she asked with her most innocent voice and puppy eyes. Marcus squinted his eyes and gently punched her against the arm. She laughed and overplayed the damage she had suffered “Uh, violence against women, that doesn’t look good in the news. I might have to write a revealing book about the “true” Marcus Freimann. The scandal!” He tried to hit her again but she ran away.

  They continued their journey for another 4 hours, until nightfall on this planet. Given their speed today, they would need five days to reach the portal, Grace estimated. This would reduce their provision and exhaust them more than she would like. If things turned out badly with the orks they would have to make a run for it and when that happened… She took her mind of the topic and Light Soul helped her to stay calm.

  Instead, Grace took out her personal tablet and re-watched the reveal video from Kim for the tenth time. The man was a genius and her role model, and now he had a secret disciple. Many had asked her if she was the disciple, she wished! But she had no idea who it could be nor would she ever have guessed he was right now camping only twenty meter away from her.