Chase pressed a button on her tablet. “Gar, you seeing anything important?”
The drone camera turned to the right and they could see Gar gliding along with it. “Nothing special. It’s pretty out here.”
“I know. Might make a trip back up here.” Chase noted and then said, “we’re almost on the location. Get the equipment ready.”
They passed over a final ridge and came to the grassy slopes with the shed.
Gar said, “I see it.”
Chase said, “so do we. Be careful. Land before you get too close. Don’t want to set off any security systems he might have in place.”
Gar landed with the drone lowering to the ground next to him. He held up a smaller device, “I’m at the location. What do we see?’
Chase checked her readings, “I’m definitely picking up unusual energy readings. But, I don’t know what they are. Running the analysis... yes, I’m reading a strong signature of that special alloy that dampens morphon powers. That has to be where he is hiding.”
Quark spoke, his voice vibrating as the chair hummed. “Sounds like we found him. Should we call Nova or something?”
Arx laughed, “Nah! Lets go grab em and get out. He can’t be expecting us. It’ll be easy. And, boy, will it look good on the news.”
Quark said, “sorry, Nova didn’t want this to become some PR stunt.”
“Well, Nova is in orbit and we’re here. He isn’t a movie star that needs to stay on the news as much as possible. This is gold and I’m not letting it get away from me.”
Chase said, “I agree with Arx. We can take this guy. If he gets some publicity for this, then fine. It’s not like we’ll be on the news.”
Quark said, still vibrating, “fine, whatever. I just want to get this done.”
Arx stood up and said, “lets get moving.”
Chase stood up with him, “Gar, we’ll be right there. Stay put.”
“Understood.”
Arx picked up his cell phone. “I can have my helicopter here in thirty seconds.”
Chase got extra close to him, smiling as she ran a finger down his shiny, silver arm. “Don’t worry. We can zap ourselves there in five seconds. Though, a limo ride with you sounds heavenly.” Her hand continued down until she got a grip on his behind and squeezed.
“Oh!” He jumped a little.
Chase shook her head, “oh, um...so sorry. Don’t know what came over me.”
Arx grinned, “I have that effect on the ladies.”
Quark stood up. “Ugh, lets get going.” He waved his hand and there was a giant flash of blue light, but instead of them changing location, he merely turned into a blue duck. Waddling back and forth for a second he said, “that ain’t right.”
Arx said, “lets just take the helicopter.”
***
Dr. Osteen watched a monitor as he typed into his computer. Several cameras watched the terrain near his little hiding place. There was an alert and one camera dominated the screen, showing the winged figure of Gar crouching on a hill.
“Ah, I have company. Just one... where are the others?” He changed the view back to the smaller screens.
Another alert sounded moments later, and the view changed to show the incoming helicopter. This vehicle had a gold signature painted on the side with the name Arx written out.
“Oh, so now the game has begun. Good. Playtime.” He pushed back on the desk and wheeled halfway across his lab. He stopped near a table with one of those special anti-morphon lasers sitting on an analysis unit. He unplugged it and turned it on.
“Computer, activate defense drones, full unit.” A wall moved aside in the back of the lab, and it presented him with more of his special robotic creations.
Red dots of light appeared in the bay's darkness as the computer announced, “initializing defense protocols. Orders…”
“Orders: Elimination.”
***
Arx hopped out of the helicopter and then turned to give a gallant hand to Chase. She used it to step out onto the grasses. In her other arm, she carried a blue duck.
Arx called out to the pilot, “get a good distance from here, stay safe. I’ll call you back when I’m ready for you.”
The helicopter lifted and left them quickly.
Arx and Chase ran on to find Gar, belly down on the ground, using a pair of binoculars to spy on the building.
“Anything yet?” Arx asked.
Gar said, “nothing.”
The duck asked, “any change in the energy readings?”
Gar frowned at the duck and then smiled when he realized who it was. “No changes.”
Quark said, “Then, we should... oh, I’m changing…” he flapped out of her arms and in a blast of light became his humanoid form again.
Arx said, “I say we just go storm the place. He can’t know we’re coming.”
Chase said, “might not be a good idea, we should contact Nova…”
“Ah, Nova is an old stick-in-the-mud. I’m going in. Someone get this on video.” Arx got up and ran.
“Hey! No! Dammit!” Chase jumped up to follow.
Quark huffed, “idiot. Come on, Gar, before something bad happens.”
Arx was halfway across the field toward the small shack when several robots popped up out of the ground. They were almost skeletal with wires and other parts showing. In their arms, each carried a large laser gun. One shot at Arx, but he jumped just in time to not be hit.
“OH, CRAP!”
Another robot popped up in front of Arx, and it nearly blasted him when a blade split its wrist from the arm. Arx threw a punch and cracked the faceplate of the robot.
Chase, preparing another blade, nearly ran into a robot that appeared. It took aim, and she didn’t have time to throw. However, Gar landed right next to the robot and put his fist through its chest.
“Those are the anti-morphon guns!” Chase yelled as she threw her blade to destroy another robot that appeared.
Arx grabbed a robot’s arm and twisted it around, slamming it into the ground. He pulled the laser free and shot at another robot, blowing it apart. “This is kinda fun!”
Suddenly a dozen more of these robots popped up at once, each brandishing the same anti-morphon weapon.
“I GOT THIS!” Quark skidded to a stop in the middle of the field and threw his arms out. A wave of blue light exploded outward. Nothing happened for a moment, then a rain of living ducks fell all over the place.
Arx yelled, “what the hell was that supposed to do?”
“Crap! I don’t know what’s wrong.”
The robots shot lasers at Chase, Quark, and Gar. Chase deftly avoided being hit, Quark phased in and out of reality, letting the blasts go right through him. Gar flew up and dodged the blasts as best he could. Arx dashed between robots, blasting them, and ducking when they fired back.
“This is easy!” Arx declared as he shot robots. “I should be filming this. Would make a great battle scene in my next…” a laser blast hit him in the center of his chest and he flew back, plowing across the ground.
“ARX!” Chase called out.
A robot almost got Chase but Gar landed directly on it, smashing it. He ripped its arm off and used it to knock the head off another robot.
“Retreat!” Quark called out as he threw ducks off of him, they seemed to be attracted to him.
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