Chapter 32 “Justice, Revenge or Pure Blindness”

“She’s gone!” Seth announced as he burst into Brandon’s study with Gina and Dominique right behind him.

“Yeah, and left her helmet behind to,” Gina added dryly as she held it up, “Does she want a repeat of last time or something?”

When Brandon did not react but calmly continued to go over the scroll that lay out before him on the table Dominique and Gina shot each other a look.

“Did you hear me?” Seth asked in disbelief. “Akira left!”

“Yes,” Brandon replied calmly, “I know, we talked before she decided to go after Steeson alone.”

“She what?” Gina’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Why didn’t you stop her?” Seth asked angrily.

“I talked to her,” Brandon replied calmly, “But in the end it was her call to make, she is after all the Rider of Legend,” he added dryly.

“And you’re her mentor. It’s your job to stop her from going right into a death trap!” Seth accused angrily.

“We can only learn from our mistakes,” Brandon replied calmly, still seeming more interested in the scroll before him that in the actual conversation.

“She’s going after Steeson?” Dominique asked in disbelief.

“Crap!” Seth yelled angrily as he thumped his fist down on the table with the scroll.

Brandon looked up at him with a frown. “Seth, control yourself,” he told him.

“You let her go!” Seth accused him angrily.

“It was her choice,” Brandon told him as he met Seth’s angry glare evenly.

“We’re going after her,” Seth growled as he turned to leave the room.

“You will do no such thing,” Brandon’s voice, filled with authority, stopped him in his tracks. “No one leaves this Academy. That’s an order!”

Seth froze while Gina rolled her eyes.

“Do you understand?” Brandon asked sternly.

Seth’s shoulders sagged in defeat. Without replying he stormed from the room. Gina just stood, shaking her head in disbelief while Dominique had an unreadable expression on his face, keeping it blank for a purpose.

“Have I made myself clear?” Brandon asked as he stared directly at Gina.

“Yes sir,” Gina muttered. “Come on Dominique,” she turned, “Let’s find Seth. You come along so that he can take his anger out on you, it will be a good remedy for him.”

Dominique shot her a glare but followed her out if the study anyway. Brandon watched them go. Once they were out of the room he dropped into his chair with a sigh. He was getting too old for this.

Regretfully he shot a look out of the small slit in the wall that served as a window. Akira would be long gone by now, she wouldn’t listen to him and he was sure that out of everyone, the only one who may have been able to persuade her not to go was her dragon Destiny, yet Destiny was old. She slept most of the day and half the time did not know what was going on. She was old, even for a dragon, and her days were drawing to a close.

“Where has all this anger in you come from?” Brandon murmured as he thought of the state Akira had been in. She had changed over the years, and he wasn’t sure if it was towards the good. “You can only teach them so much, one day they have to find follow their own path,” he murmured regretfully. Shaking his head he turned his attention back to the scroll.

Akira stared at the approaching Academy city. She had had Redemption travel through time only when she was sure they were a good distance away from the city. Brandon had been right when he said that it was reckless to travel through time from within the city, they had no idea if this whole time thing affected the surrounding area in any way, and she did not want to put any innocent civilians at risk.

“Akira, Brandon had a point,” Redemption thought.

Akira felt annoyance flicked through her that Redemption had sifted through her thoughts and found out about her conversation with Brandon.

“We’ve got this Ree,” she told her dragon, her eyes glued on the city that drew closer with every moment. Savannah’s lifeless eyes flashed through her mind and a fresh dosage of anger filled her.

“If you say so,” Redemption sighed in defeat. He had tried to talk his rider out of this since they had left the Academy, and yet Akira would not budge, her mind was set.

 “Steeson!”

Steeson averted his attention from the young students he had been watching train in courtyard below. Turning he stared at the approaching Argos. A smile spread across his face. Yes, Argos was one of the few that called him by his first name, the formalities of ‘sir’ having been put aside as if Argos were to use it then more people than he wanted would notice that something was wrong.

“Argos,” Steeson greeted him pleasantly, his smile widening as he saw the two solid black rings that were still present around Argos’ eyes.

“The imposter,” Argos was out of breath and Steeson wondered what had had the older man in such a hurry, “I received reports that she in on her way to the Academy,” Argos continued. “Should I send out some Night Riders to great her like the last time?”

“The imposter?” Steeson raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you mean her,” he nodded. “No,” he spoke with a knowing smile. “Let her come.”

“Steeson?” Argos looked surprised.

“Send out the orders that no one is to interfere, give her free passage,” Steeson spoke as he turned back to the group of young riders.

“As you wish,” Argos nodded and turned to hurry and do as he was asked.

“Deception, she’s almost here,” Steeson thought reaching out for his dragon’s mind.

“Just as planned,” came the pleased reply.

“Yes,” Steeson grinned, “Just as planned.”

No one stopped them. While it should have made Akira suspicious the anger in her took that away. She didn’t care. If Steeson was going to make it easier for her to reach him then so be it. Still, the lack of both Watchers and Night Riders put Redemption on edge.

He flew high above the city, avoiding the lines of dragons flying further below in ‘fly zones’ on purpose as not to cause a disturbance. He was heading right for the Academy, just as Akira had requested.

Akira watched the Academy building grow, its details becoming clearer as they approached it.

They’re waiting for us,” Redemption waned as his eyes easily picked up the figures that seemed to be doing nothing but stand in the Academy courtyard.

Akira didn’t reply.

“Akira?” Redemption sounded doubtful.

“Keep going,” Akira muttered. She watched as the courtyard drew closer, as the figures below became visible to even her.

Surprise filled her as she realized that instead of being filled with Watchers and Night Riders the courtyard was barely full. Except for the group of Night Riders and Watchers standing by the entrance to the Academy itself there seemed to be no one.

“I don’t see Steeson,” Akira muttered as Redemption circled once before he began to descend. “But never mind, we’ll start off with the goons at the door, see if that gets his attention,” she added as Savannah’s face flashed through her mind once again, fueling her already flowing anger.

“Akira,” Redemption warned feeling his Rider’s flying emotions. “Going into battle blinded by emotions is not a good…”

“Shut up Ree,” Akira thought, not bothering to consider the twinge of hurt she felt in her dragon.

No sooner had Redemption’s paws touched the ground than she leaped from his back. She landed on the balls of her feet and crouched slightly before in one smooth moment she whirled around.

Her eyes were ablaze as they came to a rest on the men standing by the Academy door, Night Riders, three of them and two Watchers between them as far as she could see.

“This doesn’t seem right,” Redemption thought as he backed up a step, suspicion filling him.

Akira didn’t hear him as she stared at the Night Riders and Watchers who were watching her, seeming unusually calm as they all suddenly reached to their sides. The Watchers pulled forward Shockers while the three Night Riders pulled forth tubes on which they pressed a button to turn them into rods.

“Something’s wrong,” Redemption thought with a shake of his head, “There should be more…”

His warning was lost on Akira who took three steps forward while moving one hand to the sword by her side. Suddenly she broke into a sprint, unsheathing her sword in on fluid movement.

The Watchers with the Shockers held them up immediately as they charged then, their blue light crackling. The Night Riders on the other hand seemed to pause, waiting for the Watchers with the Shockers to act.

Akira ran, her feet pounding on the ground, ignoring Redemption who seemed to be trying to get through to her. The Shockers the Watchers held made the memories of Savannah getting hit by a Shocker ball flash through Akira’s mind, filling her with more anger.

Both Watchers shot their Shockers before Akira was even half way across the courtyard.

Seeing the blue light coming towards her Akira raised one hand, shooting a ball of fire to intercept one while slashing the other with her sword and sending it off course.

The Night Riders sprang into action before she could reach them and moved, running out into the courtyard to greet her.

“Your mine,” Akira growled as she and the Night Riders were upon each other.

Ducking a blow Akira whirled, dodging another as she lashed out with her sword.

Behind her she heard a thump which was followed by a growl. As she whirled and lashed out with her foot at one Night Rider she saw Redemption facing two dragons who seemed to be trying to push him backwards. Her attention was diverted as the Night Rider dodged her blow, striking back and narrowly missing her.

Akira frowned. The Night Riders were definitely better than the Watchers when it came to hand to hand combat, and yet still, she was not going to let them beat her, not now, not ever.

Seeing one Night Rider slash his pole at her she dodged. As the pole whooshed past her her hand shot out. She felt a twinge of triumph as her fingers enclosed around it. With a mighty jerk she pulled the pole, sending the unsuspecting Night Rider off balance, crashing towards her. Akira side stepped him and sent him sprawling unconscious by giving him a hit on the head with the butt of her sword.

She was angry, but not angry enough to kill the men around her that were nothing but pawns in one man’s hands.

The Watchers joined in the fight, yet Akira dispatched them within moments. She relieved one of his Shocker and shot one of the two remaining Night Riders, not bothering to watch as he crumpled to the ground.

Whirling she faced the last Night Rider who had paused, seeming to try and reconsider his tactics now that he was alone. Behind her she heard Redemption growl and heard a large thump, yet her eyes never strayed from the last remaining Night Rider.

Akira adjusted her rip on her sword and the Night Rider’s eyes flew down to her hand before they returned to her face. Without warning Akira thrust out her hand, shooting out a fireball directly at the man before her. The Night Rider ducked upon instinct, avoiding the flame altogether, yet in the moment he took his eyes off Akira she sprung into action.

She was upon the Night Rider before he managed to recover and knocked the pole from his hands. She punched him in the stomach, making him double over. Not giving him time to recover she grabbed his hair and turned him so that his back was towards her while lifting her blade to his throat.

For a moment the Night Rider squirmed, trying to get out of her grip, yet when Akira responded by pressing her blade tighter to his throat he froze.

“Where is he?” Akira growled, knowing full well that the Night Rider knew who she was referring to. When he didn’t respond Akira pressed the blade tighter to his throat, drawing a thin line of blood. “I said, where is he?” she repeated.

“Right here,” the reply came from the entrance to the Academy itself.

Akira’s head snapped up and she caught sight of none other than Steeson standing in front of the Academy with out of all things a welcoming smile on his face.

“It’s about time you got here,” he smiled. At the same time Night Riders and Watchers poured into the courtyard from all sides, yet Akira seemed not to notice, her hate filled eyes glued on Steeson.

She released the Night Rider from her grip, sending him sprawling to the side.

“You,” she glared at Steeson, she was about to add something on when behind her there was a swish and Redemption’s voice shouted a warning in her mind. Akira whirled just in time to witness a large net fall down on her dragon who had been driven into a corner by the other two dragons who both had a triumphant look in their eyes.

Redemption could not avoid the net in time and in moments he was entangled in its metal mesh. He let out a growl as he struggled to get free, yet each move seemed to entangle him only further. Then suddenly, the net seemed to glow a pale blue and Redemption scream in pain as he withered as though the net were burning him.

“Stop,” Akira growled, pain joining the anger that flooded through her as she heard her dragon scream. All other thoughts save for her dragon fled her mind and she held up her hand, aiming it at the Watcher that stood closest to Redemption with the thought that he might be responsible for her dragon’s pain, ready to blast him with a fireball.

Yet she never had a chance to form that fire ball as suddenly something seemed to snake around her wrist and pain shot through her. Akira gasped at the intensity of the pain. Confusion filled her as her eyes wondered down to her wrist only to see a rope like object curled around it, glowing a faint blue.

Her eyes followed the rope and Akira saw a Night Rider at the other end, staring at her challengingly.

Though the pain that rushed through her was intense it was not enough to stop Akira from brining her sword arm forward in the hopes of cutting through the rope that was the source of the pain rushing through her. Yet her sword arm never made it far as something wrapped around it to, making the pain intensify.

Akira gasped as her grip on her sword seemed to be forced to tighten painfully before she dropped her sword altogether and it clattered to the floor. Her eyes followed the second blue rope to see another Night Rider to be at the end of it.

Confusion filled her. What was this? What was happening?

“Let me introduce you to my latest two installments in the Night Riders armory,” Steeson sounded gleeful as he spoke. “The net around your dragon I simply call the Net of Doom. The thing around your wrist I call a Shocker Whip, though it seems my Night Riders prefer to call it the S Whip for short. Quite effective as you see. Both work almost exactly like the Shockers in that they send out a current, yet unlike the Shockers it is a continuous and smaller current. Enough to make the person, or dragon, they touch pretty much helpless,” Steeson looked proud as he explained this. “By the way, the more you struggled, the more the current increases,” he directed in Redemption’s direction, making the white dragon cease his struggling at once.

“But that’s not important now, is it?” Steeson asked with a smile as he turned his attention back onto Akira. “What is it that now that I finally have your attention, it’s time for our long overdue face to face chat.”

“Akira…” Redemption thought as he struggled. When in response the net glowed a brighter blue he let out another scream.

Through her own pain Akira’s heart squeezed and for the first time in a while her head seemed clear. Steeson had been expecting her but letting her own anger and hatred cloud her judgment she had refused to see it, refused to listen to advice from even her own dragon, and through it all she had walked right into a trap.

“Bring the girl inside, secure the dragon” Steeson spoke as he turned and walked into the Academy.