Weaver's Knight ~ A Modern Fantasy Web Serial

Ch. 16.2 - Molly

In this episode: The trap is sprung, and with no Majestics to rescue, the Allies must decide whether to risk helping Ekaida, or bail on an increasingly tenuous situation. The Skeptic has other ideas.

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Alex raised an eyebrow at the six Complex agents facing them with empty eyes and Majestech weaponry. "Is there something wrong with this picture, or is it just me?" he wondered.

Molly sidestepped a beam of Woven suppression and hit the offending agent in his chest with a measured palm strike. He shook, then collapsed, weapon skittering away. "Don't assume it's easy," she warned, warily approaching her remaining opponent. *Tranquility Sanction, I think,* she sent, eyes narrowing. Sara hissed. *Considering what West is really after, that was inevitable.*

*Well, at least he's not pretending any more,* the Weaver retorted, wrenching the enemy agents' Talents off-balance with her own.

Alex's head tilted with uncertain curiosity. *I don't quite remember this Sanction bunch...* he admitted.

*Gray Company doesn't generally kidnap their Majestic peers,* Molly explained, *and they save mind control for a last resort. Those are both the Tranqs' bread and butter.*

Molly felt a wave of renewed outrage rippling from the Bastion. *I'm getting really sick of the Complex,* he snapped, throwing his opponents back with a wave of force.

*Join the club,* Sara sent, dancing away from an agent's grip. *Oh, wait, you did.*

A flood of leaden rejection descended over the stadium's Majestic energies. As one, their eyes went wide. The Skeptic, Dunn realized, their shared revulsion echoing through the bond. *Molly, as soon as he gets here-* Alex sent.

*I know the plan,* Molly insisted, cutting him off. A quick glance at Sara silenced her forming protest. I know, dear one, but we both knew how this had to go. The Ghost Dragon forced herself not to mirror the Weaver's worried look. *Alice is going to need your help dealing with Ekaida, Sara,* she insisted.

*Rose can handle it,* Sara replied, creating a sudden mix of Weaving, Anima and Vision that knocked one of her opponents cold.

*Perhaps,* Molly continued, a sweeping kick sending her own foe sprawling, *but someone's going to have to keep Travis busy while she does.* Mutinous concern rippled from the Weaver, but Sara relented.

The Skeptic's deadening presence stalked unmistakably towards them. Alex made a fist, and subtle electric force stunned his still-prone opponents. *We know which way he's coming from,* the Bastion insisted. *Go!*

*I love you,* Sara sent. Molly leaped suddenly into the two remaining agents, slamming them to the ground and disrupting their Anima fields. Both turned into quivering wrecks. The Ghost Dragon held out her hand, Sara took it, and they ran.

*I love you too,* Alex whispered. Molly felt him form his sword of Blaze and wonder, his stance reflecting his resolve. Bastion, indeed, she thought.

Travis' Vision force hammered into the duo. *Running? How surprisingly practical,* he sent. Molly could only get a sense of him being above, somewhere. Looking down on us. Typical.

Seven minds bolstered their two, and even the Vision Prime recoiled. *You'll be surprised, all right,* Captain Bastion shot back.

*My dear boy,* Travis oozed, his Vision projection virtually dripping with arrogance, *you're not going to surprise me with anything that can so much as inconvenience my task force. If you surrender the Weaver now, the rest of you can still leave with your so-called minds intact.*