Devils Own ( Steampunk and Mystic ) 5.6

5.6

It was dark when Kassius peeked out from the corner. He had left the others with Harper and with the rough details given by Calvin he was on the prowl to get back their weapons. Harper had passed to him the bayonet for use. He had asked on the where about of their weapons.

“They are in the armory near the Commander’ chamber at the top, and its well guarded several levels down. The sword is with him.” Calvin told him. “I managed to sneak away when he was resting.”

Kassius had evaluated the option and the last one was to climb up. The chamber may be well guarded but not its external wall. So he headed for the lowest level which he could access without guards. He approached the wall opening and looked up at the tower wall. It was smooth and there were no gaps for him to hold onto in the climb.

The chamber was still at three hundred feet high with spaced out wall openings with a gap of fifty feet each. He was to consider going for the alternative of the frontal attack, but he was stopped by a voice behind.

“You could try coming down instead of up. It’s how an assassin will do.” Kassius turned to look at the one who spoke. It was the aide who provided the means of escaping. “My name is Calvin.”

Kassius nodded to Calvin. He knew who that person was but there was something not right about Calvin. He had seen it before in his tasks.

“You are an imposter.” Kassius spoke out. He sprang into action to grab Calvin on the neck.

“No, I am a Chameleon.” The Chameleon changed its look but he was not getting off that easy. His expression was already changing to his own face. “I am not your enemy. I am here to help. Let me go.”  

The Chameleons were members of a Guild which also specialized in assassinations, among other tasks. They disguised their identity to resemble their victims or close aides. They had been terminated in the other world where Kassius had existed. Kassius let go of the aide who fell down to his knees. He coughed out to clear the air passages, and then mold his face back to that of Calvin.

“Assassin, I shall have let you rot in the dungeon.” Calvin muttered out in his hoarse voice. “But I owed Merlin. So follow me before I forget myself here.”

Soon Kassius was on the ceiling of the cavern with Calvin leading him but they had to go up via another tower.  That tower was not guarded like the one where Ian had his chamber. Near to the top of the tower there was a balcony where a rope ladder leads to the cavern ceiling. On the ceiling was a series of narrow board walkway that reached out and across the ceiling. There were also sections where only the monkey ropes that hung there served as connection between points. It was strung there for the maintenance works.

“It’s unseen from below, partly due to the low lights here and hardly anyone reached to this height except the maintenance personnel.” Calvin told him. “You could reach the other tower from here.”

Calvin then reached into a hidden compartment to remove the case. Inside the case was a series of climbing equipments including hooks and ropes. He reached in and then removed the las-gun. He had stored it there for such purpose. He had the case to Kassius who then wore the equipments.

“Have this.” Calvin reached in and then removed the las-gun. “In case of the guards.”

After an hour, Kassius was in midway on the planks when he reached the end of it. From there for a distance of a hundred feet was the monkey ropes. He rubbed his hands on the chalk powder into his palms. He soon felt the coldness in the cavern although there was only a slight breeze. It was chilly and seeped into his flesh but he had been through worse than this. He recalled his mentor who first taught him how to climb a steep surface that the only confidence needed besides good climbing equipments was confidence in your grip.

“The grip on the surface be it the ropes or the side of the rocky cliff; nothing will save you except for your fingers. They need to be strong to keep you up there. Lose your grip and you will go down very deep into your death.” Kassius mentor advised him. He learned harder at it and found himself soon at home on the climbs, but each climb was a different one. He looked up to the ceiling which was still high at the height of twenty feet. He could make out the deep roots of the trees that had broken through. It was from there he noticed the extensive steel beams placed there. The beams were wide at two feet intertwined in a series of intersections and overlapping in some areas. They were dug into the ceiling. It was not a natural cavern but one made by someone. The maintenance works may have been to keep these beams intact. It was there when he saw the explosives placed at the joints of the beams. He was to move on when he sensed someone on the broad plank. He turned and saw the guard there approaching him.

“Halt!” The guard shouted out. He was approaching fast as if he was familiar with the planks. He was dressed with ropes and hooks, and was armed with a las-gun. Kassius took to the ropes and moved fast on it. He wanted to build distance from the guard who had then pulled out his las-gun. He fired at Kassius and missed. He then aimed at the ropes to cut it. That cut caused Kassius to fall but he had anticipated that and grabbed the rope end to keep up. He had dropped about fifty feet and looked up to the guard. The other was letting go and used the rope to climb down. When he was near level to Kassius, he reached out for his las-gun to shoot again but by then, Kassius had drawn his own. Kassius shot at the rope above the guard and he went down like a rock.

Kassius swung his rope to climb up but by then he saw two more rappelling down. These two were quicker and fast with their moves like acrobats. He reached for the las-gun where he had tucked it but one of the guards had reached him. The guard kicked with the left leg at the right hand of Kassius. The guard then swung his right leg to kick at Kassius’ head.

Kassius fell backward and almost lost his grip on the rope, but he held hard. Even when the second kick came at his chest, he used that force to push himself towards the guard with the back swing. It was a desperate move that his training was not prepared for. Kassius body slammed himself into the guard, and followed up with right fist into the guard’ face. He turned to see the second guard that was approaching fast. He swung his body around with both his legs straight leveled at the waist. The body kick repel the descending guard who also lost his grip on the rope. The second guard went down like a stone, screaming out.

The first guard had recovered and lashed out at Kassius, but then the later was prepared for it. He swung his body out wide to avoid the kick and came with his legs again. That time he spread them wide and scissor kick at the guard. The sudden kick caught the guard who had defended with his free hand, but it also missed to deflect when it mattered. The second kick hit the hand that held the rope and caused the guard to lose his grip. He joined his other mate into the dead fall. It also caused Kassius to slip but he found himself gripped on his right hand. He looked up and saw Calvin hanging upside down with his right leg knotted on the rope.

“You fool!” Calvin hissed out. “Move up and be quick.”

Kassius regained his balance and moved up quick. He was wary that the screams of the two guards would have alerted the others. Calvin who was adept at the ropes held him along and soon they were on the firmer planks again. Soon they were on the top of the tower and it was time to descend the stairways. Kassius had fashioned some weapons with his climbing equipments.

“Be quiet. There are guards.” Calvin whispered to Kassius. “Bloody yelp you are as an assassin.”

Kassius was to reply when Calvin stumbled into two guards who turned around the corridor. He swung the hook on the rope at the guards. The blunt end of the hooks hit at the front guard in the face. The second guard had walked into the first one, and they went down together. Calvin ran backwards on seeing that, but Kassius had rushed forth. He had the climbing pick and swung it downward onto the left shoulder of the first guard. He followed through with his left fist into the second guard. Kassius then pulled the hook from the left shoulder and into the side of the neck to ‘garrote’ the first guard. He stepped over the first guard and approached the second guard that was on the floor. He kicked out with his right foot into the throat of the second guard. He followed through with the finger jab into the injured throat and broke through the jugular veins.

“Can we move on now?” Kassius looked to Calvin who was shocked at the ferocity attack by the assassin. The later may had been an assassin but his methods were less ferocious and quiet.

“And I am not a yelp.” Kassius hit back.

“Whatever…” Calvin muttered when he walked past. They did not meet anymore guards, and soon reached the commander’ chamber.