246 - The Capture Part 1

Lexie was out of bed and standing in front of her father in the blink of an eye. 

“Where?”

“In a pocket dimension near the Shatters.”

Lexie shivered. How long had he been there? Was he there when she visited the Shatters? Did he watch her? How was he so close by, and she never even knew it? 

“How did they find him?” Lexie asked.

“Through the interrogation of his captured allies, Vacek and his detectives were able to triangulate his movements. Vulcan has apparently gone through a lot of trouble to change his appearance, but now we have an updated image of him. Through surveillance and the use of skilled trackers on Vacek's team, we located some of Vulcan's hideouts and even met someone who knows him. He said Vulcan was at his gardening club of all things.”

“Okay,” Lexie said. That was strange. “But I thought that he was hiding out in a pocket dimension.”

“Yes, exactly. Now, normally, he would stay in the hideouts periodically, or when he was meeting with his conspirators, but Vacek and I believe that your return spooked him into staying in the pocket dimension permanently with the Alchemist. None of his usual associates has seen him since you've been out."

"I see." Scaredy cat. Although what he did was probably smart because Lexie was primed to kill him when she saw him.

"We know that the Alchemist is also probably in a pocket dimension, and we suspect that Vulcan is with him. But a pocket dimension that big and complex enough to handle two life forms plus all the experiments of the Alchemist needs to be attached to at least a level 9 unstable dungeon. Now I don't need to tell you that there aren't too many of those lying around, and when they are present, they're fairly noticeable. Sucking out resources. Killing the wildlife. Causing unrest. Often hosting Eldritch that cause psychosomatic symptoms like the one in Hovelton."

"I see." That was a perfect description for the Shatters. Desolate. Devoid of life except when there's war. "So that's why he wants the Shatters. Because that's their base of operations." It also explained why Lexie felt better there. The mana poisoning done to the atmosphere had enabled the dungeon and/or the Eldritch in the dungeon to thrive. That likely also made the Alchemist's work easier. "It's easier for a dungeon to stay hidden in a Barren land."

"Yes."

"Why hadn't I felt it when I was there?" Lexie wondered aloud.

"Maybe you weren't close enough. It was also likely buried very deep and shielded with some kind of alchemy. Or perhaps..." Aiden caught himself and shook his head. "Never mind. I suppose we'll find out when we get there."

Lexie was curious about what he wasn't saying, but Aiden just barrelled on. "

"Another reason for the conflict is also probably to feed the dungeon. At least that's what the Fae believe. Thanks to them, we were able to find out the rough location of the dungeon, and so the pocket dimension can't be too far from there."

"How did you find it? I thought the Fae can't track Unstable Dimensions."

"The Fae as a whole can't track UD's on earth, using our system, because our system can't handle that. But once given permission, the Fae can act on any land and help us track the source of the chaos. Of course, we only gave them a short-term jurisdiction for the Shatters."

"So does that mean that they're going to help us with the capture?"

"No. They will only interfere if we need them, but as you know, they will ask for something in return."

"Of course." Lexie rolled her eyes. “Okay, but it could be more than one dungeon involved.” Lexie was excited by the discovery, but she wanted to temper her expectations, just in case this didn't go the way they wanted. “I forgot to mention that Vulcan can move through dungeons. They called him a planeswalker in one of the dungeons I was in, because he could sometimes move through the heart to get to different dungeons. That’s how he got Uncle Max’s eyepatch.”

“Vacek already knows. But we also know that Vulcan consistently travels with teleportation orbs, which means that moving through dungeons isn’t a convenient mode of travel for him.  I can see why. It must be dangerous for someone whose only magical ability appears to be foresight. It’s also not smart to enter a dungeon that’s fully unstable because it could very well just trap him in there, and it's not easily controlled like a stable or even semi-stable dungeon would be." Aiden brushed his chin. "The real question we need to figure out is if Vulcan has more than one pocket dimension there and if he can move through them using some kind of alternate reality tunnel. That might be a possibility."

"If he does, can you shut it down?"

"Possibly," Aiden said. "Especially with your cousin's help."

"Pvilcycht?"

"Yes. I'll need him to get access to the dungeon."

"Good. I can help shut down the pocket dimension from the source. By cutting off its power source."

"How?"

“Either by calming the chaos of the dungeon or by severing the connection that the Alchemist's pocket dimension has with it. Then it will no longer be powered, and the pocket dimension will shut down. If the pocket dimension shuts down with the Alchemist and the Vulan within it, they die, right?"

"Yes, if they no longer have the power to keep it open. But they might be able to do so for a short time to enable their escape."

"Eitherway, we'll have them."

"Yes, but it all depends on how it operates, though. This is very risky."

Lexie thought about it and nodded. “Okay then. Let’s go.”

Aiden sighed. “I really don’t want you to come with me."

Lexie gaped at him. “You’re kidding, right?”

“It might be a trap." Frustration showed on Aiden's face, along with that same need to protect that was driving Lexie up a wall. "It all feels a tad too easy.”

“Easy?” Lexie cocked an eyebrow. “It's taking the combined effort of Dewie’s foresight, my dungeon ability, Vacek’s rigorous investigation, your powers, the Fae's interference, nearly one and a half good years, and a lot of manpower to find this guy, and you think that’s easy?” If anything, it was embarrassing that it had taken this much to find one guy.

“Let’s not forget that the Vulcan is volatile and can see the future," Aiden pointed out.

“All the more reason I should be there. I’m the only one he can't predict.” Well, her and Dewie, but Dewie wasn’t suitable for combat. “Dad, I’m going to go anyway. No question about it. I either go with you or without you.”

He gave a resigned sigh. “Just be careful. And don’t let yourself be led anywhere by him.”

“Why would I do that?”

“It’s just that…he might say some stuff about your mother, and you might be curious to hear him out…”

Lexie gave her father a look. “Is that advice for me or for you?”

“Both.” He admitted it with a weak smile, then exhaled. “It's just that…so far Vulcan hasn’t killed any of the people he’s captured. Sure, he’s led to the deaths of innocent civilians, but all his targets, Lucy Frank, Theo, Max, even you…he took you all out of the equation without killing you. It’s certainly not because of his care for human life. Vacek thinks it's because Silas struck a deal to spare the innocents, but I don’t think it’s just that. Maybe Silas would spare the heroes, but I don’t think he would go out of his way to prevent Max’s death while ignoring the deaths of other civilians. There has to be something else at play.” 

Lexie nodded. It was odd that Vulcan hadn't killed all those people. It might be a stipulation of the Chosen program. Maybe it had something to do with him not directly killing major characters?

But that didn’t make sense, because the whole point of being a Chosen was to make changes. Changes could eventually affect the narrative, ending up in the death of someone who should not have died. 

So maybe he just couldn't do it directly?

Lucy Frank was in a coma, as good as dead. She could have died at any point, though, during what she suffered, and she could still die now.

Could Vulcan get off on that one by a technicality?

“You think mom might still be alive?” Lexie didn’t want to tell him that this was unlikely, seeing as how her mother had also died in the original narrative, so she likely wouldn't be one of the protected characters.

“I don’t want to think about that right now,” Aiden said. “The important thing is to make sure that you’re not hurt in all this, okay? Vacek has a plan, and he’s waiting for us. Are you ready?"

Lexie nodded, and within seconds, they were teleported to the Shatters. Vacek had certainly organized a team. 

There were about two dozen people here, and Lexie didn't recognize most of them, but a large man who looked like Bane had his hand out, and he was constantly sniffing the air.

“He's still here. His scent lingers."

"Well, we'll either have to break in or force him out." Vacek turned to the new arrivals. “Are you ready, Aiden? Lexie?”

She nodded. “How did you get all these people here so early in the morning?”

"His natural charm," One of the soldiers said, which made three of the others snort. Everyone seemed pretty light-hearted considering what they were about to do.

"Lexie's going to attempt to shut down the Dungeon first," Aiden said.

Vacek nodded, giving her his permission.

Aiden told his daughter. “Just be careful, alright? We have your back.”

“Okay.” Lexie took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and meditated. 

She did have to actively reach out to the dungeon and still only felt the mildest of connections with the dungeon. It was indeed concealed, but she could tell a few things about it. This dungeon was under the same soul-line as the one that released the fire in Hovelton. It felt familiar. It was under the same Lordship, and Lexie felt that hungry, ravenous vibe from it.

She also wanted to possess it.

Ah. You’re here. It spoke in her mind. You have come back to me at last. You want me, don't you? Everyone wants me. I like you, though. I have tasted your power before, and I will bond with you if you ask. I can give you what you want."

Lexie didn’t know what the dungeon was babbling about, and frankly, she didn’t care. She didn't want to bond with it yet, given that she was already bonded to another dungeon, and she didn't know what the effects of bonding to multiple would be. She also didn't like that the dungeon was trying to manipulate her emotions.

Was it just the dungeon? She could sense another presence too...maybe an Eldritch inside the dungeon or attached to it in some way?

Lexie called out, “The Dungeon is sentient. And there's something within it."

“Can you still deactivate it?” Aiden aksed.

“I can try.” She communicated telepathically. Stop powering the pocket dimension, or I will come down there and kick your butt.

Yes. Come to me, Lexie Sparrowfoot. I have been waiting for you, King of the Eldritch.

Lexie paused at the term. Why would it call her that? She wasn’t even technically a Lord yet. Was it sucking up to her? Or perhaps the dungeon could see her deepest desires and was reflecting that at her, to tempt her.

Or maybe it was also attached to an Eldritch, or an Old One, but rather than a contentious relationship like Lexie’s dungeon had, this one had a more cooperative relationship.

Either way, this looked like a job for a soul touch. She would discover what was up then.

“Looks like I’ll have to do this the hard way.” Lexie said, “Step back, Dad. Everyone.” She put up a protective forcefield just in case.

“Why?" Someone asked. "What are you going to–"

Lexie blasted open the ground using a burst of VOID, exposing the dungeon swirling underneath. She heard the surprised gasps around her, as well as her father’s cautioning call, as she dodged debris and floated above the swirling depths.

As she lowered, she closed her eyes and lowered again, and was instantly swallowed by the yawning chasm of desire. She wanted everyting wth a gluttonous greed that overpowered thought. The dungeon attempted to take control of her, and at level 9, it was more powerful than every other dungeon Leixie had faced.

But Lexie was also more experienced than before. And maybe Lexie wasn't as greedy a person as she thought, because as much as she thought she would be overly tempted to take the dungeon's offer, she was still able to maintain rational thinking and remain detached.

She also sensed something else about the dungeon. It had connections to other dungeons and constantly sucked from them to power itself.  Gluttony. That was the word for it.

It even tried taking from Lexie, too, until Lexie activated her light card.

That gave the dungeon pause, and then with feverish desire, it rushed to take that from her too.  

Lexie first tried calming its chaos, tried to assure it that it didn't have to be so ravenous, that it would get what it needed when it needed it, that it would not be starved, but the dungeon's chaos was hard to control. There was just so much of it, and it just kept coming.

So, Lexie decided to instead reflect its chaos on it, and see if that would help cancel some of it out, or at least confuse it. If all else failed, she would attempt a bond to weaken the one it had on the pocket dimension, but for now, she would fight fire with fire.  

While she was doing it, she heard her father call out. "It’s working. The pocket dimension is weakening. I can see the cracks now."

“Can you break the lock?” Vacek asked.

“You can use Pvilcyht, Dad,” Lexie said, and she activated Pvilcyht to help her father as she held onto the dungeon. She barely felt the drain. The air here was very good for her magic. She could see why people wanted this place.

She wanted it too.

No. Don't let your mind go there. That's what it wants.

A few seconds after she sent Pvilycht upwards, Lexie heard gunfire. 

Lexie detached from the dungeon, instantly flying up to see that they were surrounded by swirling portals. About a hundred of them, and out of them bullets rained.

Aiden threw a shield over them, but the bullets kept coming. He also did something to try to close the portals, and it worked for a bit, but they burst out of containment, widening even more.

"On guard, everyone. We just triggered its defense mechanism." As Vacek yelled out orders, more portals appeared, and this time, clones came out of them.  

Hundreds of them.

They all had Vulcan's face, but some of them did not look human. They had gigantic arms and legs that unfolded into weapons and cocked back.

One of the Vulcan's leading the charge smiled. "You want me? Come get me, assholes!"

They all charged, and it was a full-blown war, with numbers on their side.

Aiden used a series of energy blasts to send most of them back, but more just kept coming from the tunnels. Lexie also used VOID FLAME to eat them up, and one of the heroes used a series of runes to throw up wards that detonated in the ground and trapped them.

But it wasnt' stopping the floor. The clones blasted apart would just refix themselves and charge again. The ones that were warded would break the ward. And they were all still shooting.

Vacek held out his hand, trying to control the oustorm, but he shook his head at Aiden. "My powers aren't working against them. I don't know why."

"They're not made with any traditional magic at all," Aiden bit out as he shot lightning bolts. "Alchemy and engineering only. No pathways for you to manipulate either."

"Yeah," Vacek said. One of the clones phased through reality, reached him, and tried to stab him in the neck.

But almost without looking, Vacek one-handedly grabbed it by the neck, lifted it, and smashed his head into the ground.

The clone didn't move.

Vacek glanced up at the father-daughter pair. "Good thing I have S-Rank physicality."

"Good thing indeed," Aiden said.

Lexie summoned two of the dungeon creatures to help with the fighting. Pvilycht was still working on the entrance, and including him, she had three creatures under her control now.

Somehow, it didn't feel like enough.

Just how many golems did the Alchemist have? Were they all being powered by the dungeon?

Or were they the ones powering the dungeon?

Hmm.

Would it stop if she shut down the core, or would it make it worse?

Aiden turned to answer her unspoken question. "We'll take care of this. You focus on shutting down the core and forcing them out."

Lexie bit her lip. She didn't want to leave her father to handle this by himself, but he seemed strong and more than capable.

Still.

"It's okay," he sliced at her as he waved in the air and sliced three golems into multiple pieces. "They can’t use magic at least, so we just need to disarm them. We need to find him first.”

From the corner, Lexie saw something happen.

Vacek had previously been battling two golems with military-style hand-to-hand combat, even ripping off one of the arms. The arm had been holding a knife, and it lifted by itself, shooting the knife to aim for Vacek's back.

Aiden took care of it with one hand, firing it out of the air. After he did, he took a second to frown.

"You saved his life," Lexie said.

"Yeah." He didn't look happy about it.

Lexie decided to keep doing what she was doing with the dungeon.

As she lowered herself in, it occurred to her belatedly that, according to the Chosen rules, Vacek and Vulcan could not meet.

So if Vacek was here, wouldn't reality try to work against their favor? Would it botch their mission and let Vulcan escape? Or would it make one of them die?

Lexie didn't know. She also didn't know if Vacek knew that Vulcan was a Chosen.

Should she get Vacek out of here? How would she explain it?

After chewing on it for a few seconds, Lexie decided to focus on shutting down the pocket dimension for now. Maybe, since she and Vacek had higher combined fate points, fate would work in their favor here. Maybe fate would solve the problem by ensuring that Vulcan died in that dungeon, so he would never meet Vacek.

And Lexie would no longer owe a debt to the Mountain.

Lexie kept working, pushing the chaos back at the dungeon, and she felt a heat growing in the atmosphere, an unbearable one. The air rippled around her, and in her confusion, the compulsions flooded into her mind.

This feels good, doesn't it?

The rush of intrusive thoughts was more powerful than before, showing her how good she could have it. This land. If she just took the land, she could use magic effortlessly. Her body would no longer hurt.

It solves your problem, doesn’t it?

Lexie shook her head and focused. The heat got worse, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that something was happening; the air was rippling. It felt almost like liquid glass.

And the rocks...were they sliding out of the dungeon rather than in?

Oh shit.

Lexie finally understood at the same time as Aiden yelled, “Lexie, stop!”

As she did, she floated back to the surface to see her father’s worried face, as Vacek turned to regard them. 

"Why did she stop?" he asked, before using a gun he'd acquired to shoot into the crowd. He was also sweating hard, like Aiden was.

"Because we're only hurting ourselves," Aiden said. “We can’t break into the pocket dimension. Because we’re already here.”