Clarke - Battle born: Meridian divide

A n explosion rippled across the field, sending up waves of black smoke. Victor slammed into the ground, fingers curling around his rifle.

What happened? Evies voice crackled in his ear. The map just lit up!

Orvo saw me, Victor muttered, hunched down low in the tall golden grasses. The motion sensor display in his HUD monocle blinked rapidly. Saskia was approaching.

Victor scrambled to his feet and ran along the wall of fire, coughing against the smoke. He ducked his head down, hoping the flames would be enough to keep him hidden from the watchful digital eye of Orvo, the AI that currently had them trapped here in the shadow of Hestia V, the planet they were orbiting.

Victor, what are you doing? Evie said. Saskias headed toward you. That was the plan.

Yeah, but the field is burning! He slowed to a jog, crouching down beneath the black clouds of smoke pouring off the smoldering grasses. He could just make out Saskia through the haze, a slim figure barreling toward him with a battle rifle slung over her shoulder.

I see her, he said to Evie. Then he took a deep breath and launched himself over the low-burning fire, feet pounding as he moved to intersect with Saskia.

He can see us! he bellowed, cupping his hands around his mouth. Turn around!

Saskia faltered, lifted her rifle. Heat rolled across the prairie in waves, thick and choking.

Turn back! he shouted, just as another swell of heat exploded out of the dirt behind him. He lost his footing and plunged forward. Saskia caught him in one smooth movement, dragging him toward the outcropping of rocks theyd been using as a shelter.

Victor! Evie shrieked. Tell me youre okay.

Im fine, Victor muttered. Were getting the hell out of here.

You were able to get ahold of Evie? Saskia asked, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye as they tore through the waist-high grasses.

Yeah. She has no idea where she is either.

Saskia groaned, shaking her head. The shelter loomed up in the distance, the rocks a faint promise of safety. And failure.

Victor really thought his plan would have worked. Keep low in the grasses, get to the comm station down by the creek so Evie could send him the map. But Orvo had spotted him anyway.

At least Saskia wasnt pulling any kind of I-told-you-so. Dorian probably would, though.

They darted through the gap in the rocks and into their makeshift shelter, where Dorian was crouched over a comm pad that emitted a glowing terrain map of the prairie.

Knew it wouldnt work, he said without glancing up from the map.

Victor rolled his eyes.

Im thinking hes got a camerahere. Dorian enlarged the holo and pointed with one finger. The map gleamed with thatched white lines. The fire. Both times the flames went up, you were in this area. He circled with his finger.

So we try again, Victor said. And avoid it.

Saskia glanced at him. There could be more cameras.

Dorian tilted his head, shrugging a little. Maybe. We know weve got a clear path herehe traced his finger along the map, cutting straight through the flamesbut out here? No idea. He waved his hand around wildly. And we still arent sure how far it is to Evie.

Victor slumped back, arms crossed over his chest, thoughts whirring. Saskia crouched down beside Dorian and frowned at the map. All Evie knew was that she was trapped in some kind of structureno windows, the door barred. While the three of them had been trying to figure out the best way to evade Orvo, she had been hacking away furiously on the computer ONI had left in the room for her. It was the one tether between her and the rest of the groupat least, it had become one, once Victor managed to scrounge up the comm pad Dorian was currently using to create their map.

Two days ago, the four of them had learned they would be playing Capture the Flag. It was a huge surprise when it turned out Evie was the flag.

Orvo is toying with us , Victor thought. Everything seemed easy on the surfacea simple game, Evie locked up with her biggest strength. But the game had split them up, and Evie hadnt been able to highlight her location, no matter how deep she went into the bases systems.

Victor crawled forward, studying the map. Simple on the surface. Just like their path across the prairie. He should have known better.

Dorian sighed and tapped the comm, shrinking the map down. Dust from the rocks flitted around in its wake.

Now what? he asked. Clearly, charging across the prairie isnt going to work.

Evies biggest strength , Victor thought. Simple on the surface.

The comm pad, he blurted. The answers on there.

Dorian rolled his eyes.

No, Victor said. Listen. He glanced over at Saskia, and she nodded at him, eyes bright with encouragement. He felt a little flutter of his old crush and threw her a big grin. Then he turned back to Dorian. Everything keeps seeming like its going to be easy, right, but theres some twist. They tell us were playing Capture the Flagwell, weve done that before, no big deal, right? Except

Except they split us up, Saskia said.

And gave Evie a computer. Like, straight up gave her one. But it hasnt been any help, other than us talking to each other.

What are you getting at? Dorian said.

Victor pointed at the comm. Theyre forcing us to play against our strengths. Orvo knows what were going to do, and created a puzzle that challenges those instincts.

He sat back, triumphant. Dorian just blinked at him.

So what does that have to do with the comm pad? he asked.

Victor sighed. Dont you get it? Saskia knows the weapons, youre the terrain guy, Im He gestured, hoping one of them would say it for him. He was the one willing to blaze across the prairieto do whatever it took to get the mission done. Ever since Meridian, hed gotten braver.

The muscle? Saskia said uncertainly.

Whatever. None of us are hackers , really, the way Evie is. So thats where the answer is. He nodded at the comm pad.

It makes sense, Saskia said carefully. It seems like something Orvo would do.

It seemed like something ONI would do too. None of the training Victor and the rest of them had received on the UNSC military base had been straightforward. Not from the moment they arrived. But it had been useful. Victor couldnt deny that.

Well, get Evie on your HUD, Dorian said. Have her walk us through it.

Victor wondered if getting in touch with Evie had been part of Orvos plan. Hard to say.

Evie? he said into the microphone. The HUD on his monocle flickered, and then Evies voice came through, striated with static.

What happened? she asked. Is everyone okay?

Were all fine, Victor confirmed, switching on the speaker so all three of them could hear her responses. We think the key to finding you is in this comm pad we scrounged up. The thing is, were going to have to go in and look around, and youre

Stuck in a tin can. She laughed. Seems about right. What are you thinking its going to be?

Victor glanced at the others.

The map, Dorian said suddenly. We both have one, right?

Yeah, added Victor. And Evie was able to see the explosions live.

Bring it up, Evie said. Im doing the same on my end.

The map materialized in the air above them. The fires still lit up white hot on the holo, crisscrossing the terrain.

Tell me what you see, Evie said. Lets make sure its the same.

Dorians eyes flicked across the map. Weve got the fires. The prairie. Basically what we can see if we look out past the rocks.