Nicolai slipped through the castle. Around him moved groups of Chosen, rushing and yelling, but he was unseen by all. Rendered a living shadow beneath his shimmer poncho, his Soul shelled as necessary to hide any ripples.

He was hunting for Vikrum. Now and then he briefly unshelled, feeling at the world around him. Meanwhile Cyberwarfare was sending its feelers into the communications of the nearby Chosen.

It was Cyberwarfare who found the target first, and Nicolai moved to intercept. He sped through corridors and came out on an upper balcony ringing a large room, similar to the one in the which the undead guardian outside his first safe place had patrolled.

As he approached, he felt ripples. Ripples of surprising power. Coming from a Symbiote that was not yet broken-in and hidden away inside Nodes. He was working hard to suppress and Shell the ripples the two he'd stolen were likewise seeking to release, and managing it well enough.

This Symbiote must be unusual, to release such ripples. Or perhaps Vikrum simply made no effort at all to restrain them. Nicolai considered what he felt, comparing it to what he'd memorised from the Memory Tomes, curious as to what it was.

His eyes widened in sudden shock when he matched it up with something entirely unexpected.

A Symbiote of Change.

He hadn't been sure what he was doing here, exactly. Driven by the dark and the thrill more than anything, he'd sought Vikrum out. Within, he'd been starting to reconsider the move.

But now he knew why he was here, now he knew that it had led him true. A Symbiote of Change.

He needed that Symbiote. He didn't know why, exactly. Within his mind Simulations and the other Modules were split partly away, plotting and planning in a place that couldn't be seen by an entity peering over his spiritual shoulder. But from that place came a pressure, a sensation of need. The Symbiote was the missing part of his plan.

His mind came closer together, his focus growing tighter as he approached the Zero-Twelve state. He didn't move out and peer over the edge, wary of Vikrum. The Cyborg should have cameras everywhere, and his AI would be watching through them for any discrepancies. He simply listened, and with the aid of Simulations attempted to work out a map of what was down there.

Vikrum was broadcasting over Local. His people still in this area were asking if they ought to pursue the Coalition.

'No,' the Cyborg replied. 'Go and join the others in combing this area. He's in here somewhere. I want him found.'

'What about—' began a voice from below, and Simulations worked to triangulate the individual's rough position.

'You too, all of you. I want eyes on everything!' replied Vikrum, sounding irritated. Simulations paid more attention to these words, and Nicolai moved his head left, right, up, down, as Vikrum spoke to aid it. At the end of Vikrum's sentence he had a precise position in the 3d map of the area which Simulations had created.

The sound of boots came next, as those down there moved off. As those sounds faded, Nicolai made out metallic footsteps. Vikrum pacing. The man was continuing to speak over Local, replying to more messages from his people as they came in. This particular area seemed to be about midway between the general mass of the Chosen, thus the reason Vikrum was here—a better connection.

Nicolai crept away, turned a corner then another, and then began to charge the Blue Hornet. He wanted both shots ready for when he attacked, and the sound of the lightning might betray him to Vikrum if he charged it up to close.

He envisioned his attack. It would have to be quick, very quick. An ambush. He needed to be in close, get into Soul Sense range without Vikrum knowing he was there. A difficult proposition, with his Soul Sense as weakened as it was.

Would it even be possible for him to break Vikrum's Soul Sense as quickly as he needed? That was the only way he could see this working. Break it in one blow, stun Vikrum with lightning before he could activate any shields—doubtless the Cyborg would have collected numerous Golden and Silver Feather shields, by now, and as a Cultivator he'd be able to activate them very quickly—then seize the Symbiote of Change and get away.

He couldn't get bogged down in a proper fight. For starters, he was unlikely to win. On top of that, Vikrum was surrounded by his people. Most of them were small fry but… Nicolai frowned.

Where were the heavy hitters? Gilvine and Borg? Gilvine could be of use to him. Now might be the time to attempt to leak her disloyalty, cause some kind of schism. But could he and her defeat Vikrum, all the Chosen, and Borg? It was unlikely. Perhaps it was better to keep that hidden, for now.

As he considered the missing Level 2's, his wariness intensified. There was something off about all this. Vikrum was in a very open and exposed position. He'd sent those around him away. Borg and Gilvine's locations were unknown. All this when he knew that Nicolai was near.

Nicolai's eyes narrowed with understanding.

Vikrum had laid a trap for him.

With that realisation, he knew what to do.

###

Vikrum's eyes flicked about as he wrestled with his nerves. Where is he? Cornwall had predicted Viper would be attacking any moment now. The AI was rarely in the wrong.

The odds are good that he'll show, Cornwall assured him. You are open and exposed. If he wishes to take you down, this is a good time for one of his quick strikes.

Vikrum nodded, and his head turned left and right. He saw Gilvine, hidden in an alcove, he knew Borg was lurking underneath a large flagstones with a hollow space beneath, which the Cyborg had dug out.

As soon as Viper was within twenty metres of him, he would activate one of his Quest Rewards. It was a large, single-use shield-dome Permit. Once activated nothing was able to pass through it, in or out, until it broke or he deactivated it.

With that, he would trap Viper. No more ambushes, no more hit-and-run tactics. Viper would be finished, stuck in the shield dome with him and Borg. Gilvine was currently outside the radius. He didn't entirely trust her.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Minutes ticked by. Vikrum frowned, peering around. You told me he would show! He hissed internally to Cornwall.

The odds are good, reiterated Cornwall. A moment's pause. But if he doesn't show in the next few minutes, then likely he won't. It would mean he has come, recognised the trap, and left.

Left to go where?

Either to return to the Coalition, or to set another trap. Both are equally possible.

Vikrum sighed, disappointed. He shook his head, feeling he understood Viper. The man was a coward, he wouldn't strike if the odds weren't in his favour. If Viper knew Borg and Gilvine were with him, then Viper wouldn't show. He's not here. His face twisted with a sudden spike of rage. He calmed himself, then messaged Gilvine and Borg.

We're moving. Pivot to the Coalition. He's ran off.

Borg levered the floor up from where he hid, the chunk of stone falling with a crash as the hulking Cyborg arose just a few feet from Vikrum.

Across the way, Gilvine strolled into the room.

They formed up and moved off.

###

Nicolai had found himself a chimney, arising from a grand fireplace in one of the rooms. It was slender. He could barely fit in it, equipped as he was. He lurked inside of it, his arms and legs braced to hold him in it a few metres from the ground. He kept as still as possible. He wasn't wearing his skin-suit helmet, he'd left it where he'd been hiding all his other things, and the walls were caked in old soot. It wouldn't do to knock it all into the air and give himself a coughing fit.

The door of the room containing the fireplace he his in was closed. With a him a short distance up here, and the door, it should be enough to hide the sound of the Blue Lightning snapping over him until someone was very close. This particular room was positioned alongside a hallway between where Vikrum had been waiting, and the Coalition. It was a route he thought likely the Cyborg would take.

A short time ago he had finished breaking in the Big Mouth and the Lurker Symbiotes. The Darkness Module had proven its use once again, with it running through him and spiritual claws reaching from his fingers, the Symbiotes had quailed and their wills had broken far faster than normal.

With the Symbiotes broken-in, they were hidden within his body and weren't releasing the ripples of uncontained Symbiotes. On top of that, the Lurker Symbiote was exactly what he needed for this plan to work—and it, alongside the Big Mouth, were both useable immediately due to not needing to be put into the Heart Node. For now he only utilised the Lurker.

Active in his free lung Node, it allowed him to hide his Soul and prevent any ripples from slipping out—while having the Blue Hornet active. Equally crucial, it allowed him to extend his Soul Sense and watch the hallway outside, but that Soul Sense would be hidden from others. With the Soul Snake he was just able to reach.

He released no emanations over Local, either, nor did the pair of HK drones he had primed. Cyberwarfare had spent some time attempting to make minor clones of itself to loading onto the drones. It hadn't been entirely successful—the clones lacked the spark of true sentience. But the drones would be capable of acting autonomously, trained to target Vikrum. There would be no need for any communication over Local, which otherwise would give them away. To be sure, he'd physically removed their transmitters.

The only possible tell was the faint crackles of the Blue Lightning running over him, but he had a way to distract from that.

Now, he waited.

###

Vikrum strode down the corridor, Gilvine out in front of him—where he could keep an eye on her—and Borg behind. As Gilvine went she smashed doors open and checked inside, then continued on.

As he passed by one of those destroyed doors the end of the corridor exploded. A great boom and flash of light, chunks of masonry raining toward them. It was so far away as to be no real threat, but Vikrum paused, staring, waiting for the echoes to fade.

Instead of fading there came another explosion, and another. Confused, Vikrum, stared onwards. Cornwall continually swept the area around him for signs of explosives and assured him there was nothing near, but he couldn't help feeling a bit of worry.

There was no warning. Simply a flash of light and a whirr from the side at the same time as his Soul Sense took a savage attack.

While Vikrum reeled with confusion, his Combat Drive lunged into action, holding his arms up defensively. With loud pops two HK drones launched their payloads, and his continuously activated Skin Shield burst apart, just as his Soul Sense was broken.

Something moved to his side and he saw the man, Viper. He had time to snarl and raise his rifle when a blast of blue lightning caught him in the centre, followed by another slightly higher.

He was only frozen for a moment but Viper seized that moment and rushed him, firing with a pistol and reaching with one hand. Vikrum felt a sudden push on his hip and stumbled, and at the same time there came a clatter on his shoulder. His shoulder-mounted laser fell away from him, smashed into chunks by highly accurate pistol fire.

Then Viper ducked away, momentum abruptly reversed. Just in time to avoid the sledge-hammer blow Borg threw as the hulking Cyborg's stomping run brought him to Vikrum's defence. Borg's armoured fist smashed masonry into rubble as it hummed through the air, just missing Viper.

Viper scuttled into the room like a rat and vanished into a hole in the wall.

'Get him!' snarled Vikrum, reaching for the shield-dome permit. Viper should still be within range. He Examined it and activated it in one moment, only to see—

This Permit can only be activated in a more open area.

Borg reached the opening, aimed his machine gun up it and sprayed rounds. Vikrum sucked through a Rejuvenating Orb as he dashed over.

'Did you get him?!'

'No,' said Borg. 'This shaft has other exits, higher up. He's gone out through one.' The Cyborg tilted his squad metal head, curious. 'There is a strange crumbly black substance on the walls. I wonder what this was?'

'Who cares? Get in there after him!'

Borg stared at him, metal face blank. 'It's too small. Even you won't fit.'

'Gilvine!' screamed Vikrum, turning and staring around.

'I'm here,' said the slender Cyborg, entering through the doorway.

He scowled at her then lunged across the space, grabbing her by the throat. 'You passed by this room! You checked it!' he snarled. 'Why didn't you detect him!'

'He was soundless. There were no signs,' she replied, unphased.

'Get in there and find him!' he growled, tossing her toward the fireplace.

But as she began to move into it, there came another explosion. She dove aside in time to avoid a rain of masonry.

Viper had blown the shaft up, rendering it impassable.

Viper defeated her last time anyway, Cornwall reminded him. His ambush failed and now he will likely flee. It's a good time to move against the Coalition, though we should be wary of another ambush attempt.

Vikrum's hands flexed as he clutched at empty air. He struggled to even care about the Coalition. Viper was all that he wanted. He snarled.

'Whatever. Fine. Let's go.'

###

The attack hadn't worked out. Borg, the larger Cyborg, had been close and had gotten there before Nicolai could fully close the distance.

On the plus side, Vikrum didn't seem to be aware of what he'd sought. As he'd dove closer he'd made it seem that he wished to perform some kind of final attack, rather than seize the Symbiote.

He'd attempted to use the Grasping and Repulsive Fingers to seize the Symbiote of Change, but it was attached to Vikrum's hip—in a small metal box tied by plastic-weave rope—and due to how Vikrum had been standing relative to him, it had been on the other side of the Cyborg's body. Bad luck. He'd attempted to push it away and snap it off from Vikrum's body, but the weave-rope was too strong. The attempt had merely pushed Vikrum sideways. He'd been forced to disengage and retreat before he could try something else.

At the very least, he had achieved his secondary goal by taking out the laser on Vikrum's shoulder. It had been smashed into pieces and the Rejuvenating Orb shouldn't be able to repair it. It was the only one the Level 3 had. He was reasonably sure that Gilvine had not communicated to Vikrum that lasers could go through shields—if Vikrum was allowed to realise, it could be problematic for him.

He doubted Vikrum would realise the significance of him destroying the laser—even if it weren't for the shield element, permanently taking out one of an opponents side weapons was worthwhile at any time. It was the kind of thing Nicolai would've done regardless.

Nicolai considered. He still needed that Symbiote, and now he didn't have to worry about the laser. Next time, he would have to try and cut the box away from where it was attached… but finding the opportunity to do so wouldn't be easy. He would need time. A hit-and-run was difficult, it was hard to perform the numerous necessary actions to get the box free in time, without damaging it. He couldn't risk destroying the Symbiote.

Perhaps a change of strategy was required.

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