Unity by Carl Stubblefield (epub read online books TXT) 📕

Gus felt oddly reassured that his investment of FP into the cafeteria wasn’t just a waste of points, and that he had actually done something to help with the mission. While no one had said anything, he felt a need to prove himself. If not to them, then to himself. That he deserved to be part of the team.

Turning a corner, the smell of antiseptic in the air announced that they were near the complex’s medical wing. Grimdark’s team was already there, and he stood there stoically with his arms folded in front of him, a dark look on his gaunt features.

“It’s not good, Tempest. Harmony has not sensed anyone left in the base. Upon our searches, that means no bodies either, even though there is evidence of a massacre. The barracks have multiple beds stained with blood. The walls are marked with blood splatter as well as in areas that would have had high traffic. My assessment is that this was a surprise attack, but it is difficult to tell what has happened with what we have, or if anyone escaped. I’m sorry.”

“No!” Tempest shouted, shaking his head. “There has to be something. Have you heard anything from team two?”

“They’re en route, but they also ran into a wraith, so are resting and recharging before moving forward.”

“This is all wrong.” Tempest pursed his lips, his brow furrowed in thought. “Alright. I know I’ve only shared this with a couple of others, but it’s time you all knew. Someone or something is targeting the Factions. Not just Purple, but all of them. There has been a large increase in attacks and disappearances as of late, and I have been trying to investigate without revealing my awareness of the situation. The presence of wraiths here is just a confirmation that this is not some extremist reg group but someone with powers actively targeting supers. But what connection this has with my wife—”

A scream broke into Tempest’s explanation and immediately after, BoJack rounded the corner, running at full speed and yelling in terror. The rest of team two followed with The Keeper lagging behind, due to his shorter legs. Drywall and thin metal supports spewed into the hallway right behind him as something enormous burst through the wall. The small man bellowed a litany of curses as the team ran past the others.

A being that appeared to be made of living electricity stood in the hallway and shrieked. Papers wafting down from the chaos began to burn as they touched the creature. Wraiths emerged from surrounding rooms, drawn by the noise. Team two turned and caught their breath while the others closed ranks and stood to face the threat.

Tempest curled his lip in a sneer of challenge and pulled his fists back, mists swirling about him as the rest of the team began charging attacks and getting into position.

“You know what we’re dealing with, people! Let’s do this!” Tempest shouted.

Then all hell broke loose.

Chapter Seven

Electric Blue

Not knowing exactly what he was dealing with, Gus marveled as everyone moved in unison to meet the threat. Harmony dropped back and Gus noticed a series of buffs show up on his display. Avatars for members of teams two and three populated the upper and right sides of his display automatically.

The electro-monster stomped forward, leaving singed and melted three-foot-wide footprints in the carpet as it moved. The creature was giant, consisting of only a torso and four appendages sprouting out of its sides. It appeared cobbled together from bits of metal and debris, held together by arcing strands of living electricity. Its legs were thick like an elephant’s and shook the floor the closer it got. The crackling blue energy coursing around what made the outer skin of the beast was mesmerizing, and it was hard not to stare.

Gus briefly saw the wraiths, with their rotund bodies that resembled spiders supported by spindly legs and arms much longer than normal, both tipped with bony claws. Upon seeing the group of supers, they went from a gauzy consistency and dropped into stealth, disappearing from view. Gus blinked away afterimages the crackling countenance of the electro-monster had burned into his eyes after he managed to pull them away.

The creature lifted two of its paddle-like arms and hordes of tennis-ball sized spheres of blue energy floated out, targeting different members of the group. They moved slowly, but tracked and followed as the Crew dodged them. The lower arms elongated and began whipping unpredictably forward, each one making a loud *crack* as they snapped in front of the behemoth, discouraging any frontal attacks.

The Keeper calmly moved in front of the group and began gesturing, making a window with his hands as if he were framing a picture, then twisting and repeating the process in rapid succession. Small portals began to open up in the path of the energy spheres, gobbling them up. He continued to make more frames and it was only the shriek of the wraiths that drew Gus’ attention to where the spheres were being redirected.

Multiple tiny portals dumped the spheres behind the phalanx of wraiths lurking past the electro-monster. Each one pushed through the wraiths like a hot poker through wax, illuminating them with a blue hue as they left, leaving gaping holes in their wake. The energy balls shrank and slowed as they expended energy pushing through the wraiths as they tried to continue towards their intended targets.

Hearing the shrieks, the monster extended one of the whip arms toward the wraiths and emanated a weblike substance that pulsed down the attachment and stitched the wounds together. The monster shuddered and shrank slightly at the expenditure of energy. The attack spurred the group of wraiths to spread out and scurry around, like ants from a kicked anthill. As soon as they were healed by the boss, they faded back into invisibility.

In response, Tempest spread his fingers as if he was getting ready to play the piano. Pulling