Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

What tomorrow brought was a surprise, but definitely not a pleasant one.

"This will be difficult," Dorrin said as soon as he realized what the challenge was to be.

Ziana hadn't followed all of what the announcer had said, but Dorrin was quick to clarify the rapid-fire information the man had relayed to the betting spectators.

"This is an endurance event. A very difficult endurance event."

Surprisingly, she didn't seem fazed by that news. "We've been pretty good at endurance."

"It's more than just that. Much more."

"So, what, then? Bigger hills? More obstacles? We can handle whatever they throw our way."

"I appreciate your confidence, but this will take place in a vast underground cavern in which we must locate, and reach, a series of checkpoints that register our genetic code as verification in order to claim a key to move on and complete the task. On top of that, team-on-team violence is allowed in this challenge. Some may opt to fight and steal another team's keys, though historically that has not fared well for those who attempt it," he replied, the seriousness of his expression making it clear this was not a joking matter.

She opted not to make the Batman quip despite their cave destination.

"That's a bit sketchy, but it still seems doable. What else?"

"It's an artificially made location, and let me tell you, it is an impressive feat. It is more than just a cave. This is an entire expansive cavern system with varying environments and dangers of all varieties. Some are environmental, some are traps and pitfalls. And then there are the wild creatures that live in them."

"Creatures?"

"Yes. I am actually rather surprised they are having us face this challenge already. Usually, it is much later and something of a big finale."

"They do this every time? That's good, right? We can at least get an idea what's in store for us."

"Unfortunately, no. You see, the designers spend the years between games completely reinventing this cavern system in secret, finalizing everything in place with plenty of time to give the wildlife time to settle in and make it their home. A home we will be intruding upon."

Ziana didn't like the sound of that.

"So you're saying there's going to be animals in there. And we're gonna be dumped right in their habitat."

"Essentially. And as this is a complex structure that required a great deal of work to complete, the observation systems are built into the environment itself. There will be no orbs in the sky to clue us in as to the locations of the more dangerous areas."

"So we've just got to move carefully and avoid them. Dodge the creatures, avoid the traps, keep from getting into a scrap with Galla and the other elites, all while we make a run for the exit and hope for the best. Piece of cake," she said with a humorous tone that she definitely did not feel.

Dorrin shook his head. "I am afraid it is not so easy as that."

"You call that easy? I was pulling your leg."

He glanced down.

"No, not literally. But seriously, how can it be worse than that?"

"In several ways, actually."

"Well, aren't you the bearer of good tidings. What could possibly be worse than what I already laid out? Or do I not want to know?"

"You will not be pleased, but you definitely need to know," he replied. "The hazards you listed are concerns, naturally. But the environment is more than just difficult terrain. There are multiple climate regions. Frozen lakes and icy ground, molten pools of lava and deadly hot springs that will boil you alive. Slippery moss and steep falls, along with toxic plants and jagged rocks."

"Good lord, I thought you said this was man-made."

"It is. All of those features were carefully crafted to create a dazzling expanse of wildly varying and deadly micro-climates."

"Let me guess. It's all for the gamblers' entertainment."

"More or less, you are correct."

Ziana shook her head, took a deep breath, then rolled her shoulders and stood tall. "They're not going to slow our roll, Dorrin. The others will do what they do, but the elite teams? They were embarrassed yesterday, and that means they're going to go out hard and fast to make sure we don't do it again. And we can use that to our advantage. Follow the best of them and let them deal with whatever dangers are on the way, then race for the exit after they've worn themselves out."

Again, Dorrin had that look on his face.

"What? Why not?" she demanded.

"It is a good strategy," he said, "but we will all be deposited at different starting locations, negating the ability to ride the coattails of another team. And the time constraints of the cavern event negates the option to simply race for the exit."

"Why?"

"Because the exit, even if discovered quickly, will not open until the following morning. We will have to tough it out until then. Even if we reach all of the checkpoints in quick succession. And before you ask, no, camping out at the exit is not an option. It is always riddled with traps that replenish and rotate at random to prevent such a thing. And just beyond that perimeter beasts always find comfortable places to make their homes."

"By design, of course."

"Of course."

"So, even camping out close to the exit is a no-go," she grumbled as she processed the new information.

"I have never seen it to be any other way."

Ziana's burst of confidence took a decided hit, her spirits dimming with the revelation despite going into the day's event riding the winds of the prior day's success. She may have found a way to game the system the other day, but for this one they'd have to tough it out the long and shitty way just like everyone else.

The preparations were simple. Each team was loaded into their own tiny transport vessel with no windows and flown to the caverns. From there, they would be taken in through a lone rooftop access point that could not be reached from below even by the most skilled climbers. Their craft would then set down at their designated starting location to wait. When the challenge began, they would be released from their sealed starting point somewhere within the caverns. Where was anyone's guess. The only thing that was guaranteed was they would not exit directly onto a trap or deadly terrain feature. But beyond that anything could happen.

Dorrin sat quietly, almost in a meditative state as they waited for the game to begin. They'd landed some time ago, but until every team was in their starting position, they would have to remain in place. And without windows Ziana was dying of curiosity. Curiosity and a healthy dose of worry.

"Do not fear," Dorrin said, turning his calm gaze her way. "It is bad for ratings if teams are eliminated straight away."

"But wouldn't that be exciting?"

"Perhaps. But with the amount bet on the event the elites would not want to alienate the gamblers by taking out their preferred team without at least a chance at a fair fight."

"I thought you said it was never fair."

He chuckled. "You know what I meant. Of course it is not fair. The elites will have advantages, mostly in the form of advance warnings."

"How? I thought they'd be scrutinized and on camera."

"They will be. We all will. But unlike the outdoor events that are set up just before the games, this had a planning committee and teams of workers. As a result, they have known the general locations of the keys for some time, if not the precise placement of them. Oh, they will go through the motions, pretending to search to make it look good for the gamblers, but rest assured, it is an act. And one we will take full advantage of."

"How?"

A little grin creased his lips. "With a little teamwork. We will move for high ground, if we aren't already starting on it, and identify the elite teams we can see. From there we will monitor their direction, each of us keeping one or more's path in sight while we pursue our own track. They are not the best at hiding their movements, so once we discern their direction and account for a little weaving about on their part to disguise that they know where they are going, we will utilize that knowledge to shorten our own search. It will still take time, but we have a full day. And, if all goes as I plan, we will complete that aspect of the task in good time, allowing us to determine the best place to camp for the night while staying as close as possible to a fast route to the exit for when they sound the opening gong in the morning to announce it is open."

"It's a gong?"

"Yes, it is a bit old-fashioned, but the spectators enjoy it, and it is tradition. In any case, when the gong sounds, we will have to move fast."

"You know I'll be ready."

"I do. But first things first. First, we have a series of keys to retrieve. And we will know how many when the game be?—"

The door to the craft popped open, the game starting without warning.

"Begins," he finished, stepping out and noting the information display floating outside the transport ship for a few seconds before snapping off.

"What did it say?" Ziana asked as she followed him out, taking in their surroundings with both awe and caution.

It was a grassy mesa, not too wide, but quite elevated. It seemed they'd been given the advantage they needed without those randomly assigning starting locations being any the wiser. It was an advantage they'd gladly take.

Dorrin was already squinting, scanning the distance for signs of the others. "It said there are only three keys."

"Good, that should be quick work."

"Not necessarily. There are typically five or more. Fewer keys likely means a much more difficult environment. One that will take a lot more time. But first things first," he said as their transport silently lifted off and disappeared out the opening far above, the small flying craft exit point sealing shut once the last ship was out.

He hurried to the edge of the mesa, watching his step as he moved. "No traps, at least not right here. Follow close and step where I step."

Ziana did as he said and in no time they were at a steep drop leading to sharp rocks below.

"Wow," she gasped, truly impressed by the scale of what they'd built, and all of it underground. "That's amazing."

He paused a moment to take it all in, allowing himself to enjoy the scenery, if only for a minute. "Yes, I suppose it is, once you get past the game aspect, anyway."

He turned his head, scanning the massive cavern for signs of other competitors. Ziana followed suit. There was an orange glow where lava was clearly bubbling out of a stone face into a cascading lavafall. She'd never seen anything like it, the molten rock splashing down into the cold water below in an eruption of hissing steam.

The water was mostly frozen down there. A large hole had melted open surrounding the area where the lava impacted, but the rest of the area was a frozen lake. More of a really big pond, if you had to be technical about it. On its shores, icy plants clung to life, but only just, the whole place looking cold and miserable.

Off past it was a sandy area that appeared hot and dry, making her wonder how they kept the vastly different climates from bleeding into one another. Alien tech was the answer, of course, but now was not the time to try to figure out how it all worked.

"There," Dorrin said, pointing to a pair making their way up a moss-slicked slope far off to the right. "Lonks and Quilla."

"I see them. And it looks like others are following already."

"With only three keys, it's logical. There are less areas to find the keys, though that also means we're less likely to have violent altercations, even though they are allowed in the caverns."

"Why's that?"

"Because, with this much time, everyone should be able to retrieve their copies of the keys by the time the exit opens tomorrow. They may be exhausted, but the risk of injury fighting is far greater than simply pushing on. But time will tell."

"Hey, over there," Ziana said, pointing out another team circling the base of the lava fall, searching for a way up.

It was a pair of commoners, they realized, but they were being followed by elites. Elites who knew where they needed to go but couldn't simply hurry around them without drawing unwanted attention to themselves. They stayed there a little while longer, making as many notes about the environment, teams, and terrain as they could until there was only one option left.

"I guess we should get started," Ziana said.

"We should," Dorrin agreed. "Stay close, stay quiet, and keep your eyes alert. We have not seen the animals residing in this place yet, and that worries me. Usually, there would have been at least some sign, and the absence tells me one important thing."

"What's that?"

He scanned the mesa one last time then headed for the least steep point from which to descend. "That they have opted for animals that practice stealth," he replied quietly. "They have put us in here with predators."