Chapter 54

THE PORTAL GAMBIT

Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

Gen knew that the worst thing a warrior can do in battle is convince themselves they’ve won before the fight was done. Arrogance was the downfall of a soldier. It was how strong competitors were caught by a sword. That was why Gen couldn’t celebrate yet. There was much left to be done and many dangers ahead to face—the worst hiding somewhere ahead.

As Emperor soared through the skies of downtown Los Angeles, Gen searched for the fifth and final tower. Thankfully, it wasn’t hard to spot, standing amongst buildings and surrounded by crowded streets. Unfortunately, it was also easy to notice because it was heavily guarded.

Gen realized that she should have expected no less. However, the sheer number of obstacles that stood between them and their goal was simply astounding. The tower was surrounded by an army of police on the ground and barricaded behind vehicles, their weapons trained on the approaching rider atop her dragon. Swarming in the air around the transmitter were several helicopters, their blades whipping the air as they circled, not leaving a single opening.

Even more concerning for Gen was the realization that taking down the tower would be a delicate balancing act. This would be a high-stakes game of precision and control. She and Emperor couldn’t risk harming any innocent bystanders or destroying private property. They didn’t want to be seen as villains to the city. The dragon and rider wanted to maintain the fragile trust they had worked so hard to build with the people of the city. They couldn’t be the threats that the Commissioner was making them out to be.

“What are we going to do?” Gen said, mostly to herself but also aloud to her dragon.

He had halted, hovering a good distance from the tower. The forces guarding the structure seemed to be frozen too, watching to see what the dragon and rider would do next. The helicopters circled the transmitter, but didn’t break formation.

This time Gen and Emperor couldn’t get close. They’d already played that trick. That meant they’d have to do something new that the police forces wouldn’t expect.

An idea hit Gen hard, something new that they hadn’t considered. “Portals,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the wind. “We can use portals to get past the defenses and reach the tower undetected.”

“It will drain your magic,” he replied, skepticism strong in his voice.

“But it would confuse them,” Gen urged. “Then when they are discombobulated, we can strike. We just need to get in close.”

“Your energy though,” he warned severely.

Gen patted her jacket. “I have another candy bar. And what does it matter if we don’t finish what we started? I think this could work. Also, we don’t have to take down the tower. Remember, we have more helpers. Really eager ones.”

Emperor seemed to consider this for a moment. “Okay, I’ll follow your lead. Open the portals and I’ll go through and stay alert. When the forces are really turned around, then take us on to the highest point of the transmitter. We must start at the top for our helpers to work.”

She nodded, her eagerness making her giddy suddenly. Gen liked the idea of using strategy over brute force. But she couldn’t deny that she also liked breaking noses and she looked forward to cracking Charlie Sloane’s when the time came.

Lifting her hand, Gen closed her eyes. She reached deep within herself to tap into the wellspring of power that flowed through her veins. It shot out of her as naturally and instinctively as walking.

With a flick of her wrist, she tore open a shimmering portal in the air before them. Its edges crackled with energy as it grew and expanded—a brightness like looking into the sun. But then it dimmed and that’s when one knew it was safe to enter. And as luck would have it, Gen had made it perfectly and it was large enough for her dragon to dart through.

She quickly caught the shock on the faces of the soldiers below. The helicopters also seemed to pause in midair, as if wondering if the dragon and his rider were abandoning the fight they’d started. They must not have noticed the other side of the portal that materialized on the opposite end of the tower.

Emperor beat his wings, propelling them forward and through the swirling vortex. The world around them dissolved into a medley of colors and sensations. They progressed through instantly and passed back to a world much like the one they’d left, just on the other side of it.

The pair emerged on the other end, high above the city and far from the prying eyes of the police. Emperor continued to beat his wings, always keeping them flying gracefully. Gen didn’t pause her efforts either.

Neither one of them stopped, keeping with the momentum carrying them forward. Gen opened another portal and Emperor flew them through it, disappearing again. As they fled, Gen caught sight of the forces on the ground taking notice. They simply had a moment to turn in their direction before that portal closed and the dragon and rider vanished.

Again, they emerged on the other side of the tower, this time a little lower. This caught many more people’s attention. But before anyone could react, Gen had already created another portal. She did this over and over, doing her best to keep everyone guessing and growing more confused and on edge. That would work in her and Emperor’s favor.

Each portal was a gateway to a new part of the area, a new angle of approach. The helicopters and police were left in a state of confusion, their formations scattering like leaves in the wind as they tried to keep up with the darting, disappearing form of the dragon and his rider. But Gen and Emperor were always one step ahead, their movements fluid and graceful as they danced through the portals, their destination growing ever closer with each passing second.

With a final burst of speed and a silent sound of triumph, Gen and Emperor emerged from the last portal, finding themselves perched atop the tower. Just as they’d discussed, the purple dragon clutched onto the top of the transmitter, grabbing it with his talons. However, he didn’t pull like with the one by the ocean. Instead, he simply posed, ready for what came next.

The structure shuddered beneath their weight. Its metal bones groaned in protest as Emperor’s claws dug into its surface. Gen didn’t allow the feeling of victory to unfold in her heart even as she looked out over the city below from her high perch. The helicopters were far in the distance, lured away from their game of cat and mouse or rather portal and helicopter hide-and-seek. Also, the forces on the ground were so confused that they didn’t even see the large dragon atop the structure they had been sent to guard.

Gen and Emperor had done it, outsmarting the defenses and reaching their goal through a combination of magic and sheer audacity.