“Visiting your
base sounds like a plan Mr…?” replies Morgan.
“Sentinel,” I
answer, “Just the Sentinel.”
Morgan stiffs
with surprise.
“Sentinel?”
repeats Morgan, “Huh. Folks in suits of armour called the Sentinel tend to be
hardasses. Never heard of one that wasn’t.”
“I’m going to
take that as a compliment,” I state dryly, not bothering to mention I already
told her who I was, “Can you fly with that armour? I assume you can, but it
never hurts to make sure.”
“Sure I can,”
shrugs Morgan.
“Good,” I take
off and hover a few metres over the ground, “Follow me and don’t fall behind.”
Morgan lets
out a laugh and flies up after me.
She easily
keeps up with me and I’m sure she could go faster. I could too, but that would
eat up my fuel reserves far too quickly.
“So what
exactly is your origin?” I ask Morgan.
“Nothing special,”
answers Morgan, “I came from an Earth without powers when I found myself in
another dimension. Some of the locals helped me and eventually I entered
another dimension. Since then I got by surviving different dimensions before
moving on to the next. As I progressed, I have made friends with other interdimensional
travellers, gained experience, skills and knowledge. After about two years of
that, I encountered some of Warmind’s forces He offered me a job. Since it
offered me some relative stability, I accepted. I spent half a year as one of
his normal soldiers before joining the Drakesguard. I served four years as a
Drakesguard, made friends and became an awesome special operations soldier.
Once I had enough I decide to wander again and the first place I went was
here.”
“So what are
you going to do now?” I inquire, “Continue to be a soldier? Are going to stay here
or go to another dimension?”
“No idea,”
admits Morgan, “I’m sort of glad Warmind let me keep my equipment. I don’t feel
safe without my armour or weapons anymore. A few bad experiences when I didn’t
have them with me that could have been resolved with them. I sort of feel naked
without them now.”
“My granddad
felt the same in the later years of his career,” I say, “Always said he felt
naked going into battle without the Sentinel armour on. Veterans who fight with
their gadgets are like that I supposed. Ever thought about going back home?”
Morgan is
silent. Several long seconds past before she answers.
“Can we talk
about this once we are back on the ground please?” asks Morgan quietly.
“Sure,” I say,
resisting the urge to shrug.
***
“Here is one
of back entrances to our base and headquarters,” I say as we land, breaking the
silence we spent the rest of our flight in.
“Looks dull
and mundane,” notes Morgan, “That’s good.”
We’re standing
out in the middle of the forest, completely off the beaten track.
“Nobody would
look out here,” I say, “Not that anyone ever does look for the base. It’s kinda
impossible to keep secret so we keep it hidden by stopping anyone looking for
it.”
I open the
hatch before turning to face Morgan.
“It is a bit
of a drop, but we should be able to take it wearing our armour,” I tell her
before stepping down into the hole.
I wasn’t kidding
about the drop and fall for three seconds before hitting the metal floor with
an audible thud. I sidestep out of the way, barely avoiding Morgan landing on
top of me.
“Who is home?”
I ask out loud.
Janelle is the
one to answer.
“No one, but
Alex,” says the AI, “The Rileys have gone out with Narszara and the other
Leaguers are either with family or friends. Hello Corporal Morgan, welcome the
League of Heroes Base.”
“Hello
disembodied voice,” answers Morgan in that jaunty voice of hers.
“That’s
Janelle,” I explain to Morgan, “The AI belonging to the League’s starship.”
“And I already
know as about you as I can,” says Janelle, “I was listening in on Sentinel.
Hope neither you minded.”
“Not at all,”
I say dismissively, but Morgan looks thoughtful.
“Do you know
her origin?” asks Morgan.
“I asked and
she politely decline to tell,” I say with the shrug, “Let’s head to the main
room and discuss your plans.”
I lead the way
and find Alex already sat at the table with three glasses, a bottle of Pepsi
and tray of assorted biscuits.
“So this is
Corporal Fiona Morgan of the Drakesguard,” says Alex with a smile on her face
as she raises her glass of Pepsi in a mock salute.
“You know
about her?” I ask.
“I listened in
with Janelle and Narszara,” says Alex as Morgan and I sit down, “And a few of
my relatives knew a thing or two about Warmind and his forces.”
“And you are
Alex I assume,” says Morgan as she takes her helmet off.
“Yep,”
confirms Alex.
Morgan has a
pretty if worn face. She has a ‘been there, done that’ sort of look to her twinkling
brown eyes and sharpen facial features.
No seriously,
I can spot her eyes twinkling using my armour.
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