Chapter 56: Two Paths (1)

Chapter 56: Two Paths (1)

The platform was empty. The control station, made of stone, with two wooden stools behind it, was empty.

The only thing to accompany the Xerxes and the soldiers of Unit One was silence. Neither sound nor even a slight breeze could be detected.

Where is everybody? Xerxes said.

Good question, Stratos said. Raising his voice, he said, Clear the landing area then fan out. Unit Two comes through in two minutes. Check the corridor but dont go too far.

Under normal circumstances, the landing platform of a Gateway was manned by at least five people. Two people were responsible for operating the passageway itself, and there were three guards, one overseeing the platform and two at the door. That was just in the immediate vicinity. Other personnel occupied other positions within the complex. Where was everyone?

Xerxes had been through many Gateways, and though there was a variety in terms of things like the layout, interior decoration, uniforms of the staff, one thing was a constant; there were always people present.

Not here, though.

As the soldiers of Unit One spread out, Xerxes walked over to the control station.

Something like a table of stone had a wooden contraption atop it with a host of dials, levers, and buttons. The entire thing was a complex spell formation, and it looked exactly like the one hed studied back on Sin-Amuhhu.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

He immediately checked the switch that controlled the receiving connections. It was flipped to the receive option, which was expected considering the staff on the Humusi end had forced the connection. He looked at some of the other switches and dials, wondering if the receive option had been toggled off to allow for outgoing tunnels to Jehannemids lower starisles.

He saw no evidence of that. All the control options seemed to be in their default state. It was as if the connection switch had been flipped, but nothing else.

Looking away from the controls, he examined the surroundings. The stools the operators would sit on had been pushed slightly away from the table.

There was nothing to indicate why the place had been abandoned.

He saw no blood. No hint that there had been any sort of struggle or other dramatic events.

Corridors empty, said Vadamerca, who had stepped out of the tunnel entrance platform.

Jad nodded. Right.

Can you think of any other explanation for why they might have abandoned this place?

Not really.

Gandash tapped the map. Theres no evidence of an attack, whether by human forces or Abhorrent. The nearest city other than the capital is he traced his finger along the map here to the northeast. Too far to be relevant.

Captain, Jad said, the word sounding a bit awkward on his tongue, theres a watchtower attached to this Gateway complex.

Gandash looked up. Youre right. I forgot about that.

I remember hearing people say you can see the capital from here. If thats true, the watchtower would be the best view.

Gandash smiled. Good thinking, Jad. You and Sergeant Vasilios go up there and see what you can see.

For the next few minutes, Gandash asked the opinions of the First Lieutenants. Xerxes felt strange interacting with his friend in this capacity, but he did everything possible to make it professional.

In the end, there was very little information to go on yet.

Despite the strange circumstances, Gandash said, theres not much we can do other than proceed with the operation.

Dasi, fingering one of her many piercings, asked, Should we send a message back?

Gandash scratched his black eye softly. No. To be honest, this isnt entirely beyond what I expected. Looking around the table, he said, We came because of local unrest. Although we dont know the exact reason why the facility was abandoned, we do know that the situation on Jehannemid is unstable.

The door opened and Jad returned.

Something happened, he said.