Part Four

When Theodore made his way into the ruins, he first turned around to help Al through. When Al had turned to help the person behind him, Theodore turned to take in the chamber, reaching for his wand. Before he could light his wand, a cone of light suddenly exploded, momentarily blinding him. When his eyes finally adjusted, he found Lambda, standing in the center of the chamber, using his head lamp to illuminate the chamber. The left and right sides of the chamber were devoid of any remarkable features, while the ceiling was remarkably flat and made of the same material of the rest of the room. In the ceiling were two rows of regularly spaced dark glass squares set into the ceiling surface.

“Amazing,” Miranda said as she brushed her hand along the walls. “It feels like metal, but aside from the environmental damage, there's barely a hint of rust...”

“I guess that means we don't have to worry about getting wet,” Al said flatly.

“Lambda!” Elenore cried out as she squeezed into the chamber. “Why didn't you wait for us before jumping in?”

“Sorry Commander,” he said without conviction. “But I just had to get in here.”

“Excited, eh...?” Theodore trailed, his smile fading from his face.

Lambda illuminated the far side of the wall. Set in the center of the wall was a trapezoid alcove, with a set of double doors inside. All around the alcove were crater-like marks marring the otherwise pristine surface as well as numerous, smaller indentations on the doors and walls. The doors were slightly spread ajar, however there were no hinges or obvious way to open them.

Lambda, of course, was the solution. Stomping forward, he wedged his fingers in the gap of the door, and with a grunt, slowly wedged them open, pushing them into the walls. The investigative team watched with fascination as Lambda forced the doors open, at one point pressing his back against one side and kicking the opposite side to push the doors open. When the sound of grinding metal finally ended, Lambda reached into the side of the doorway and pulled an unseen lever, before finally turning to face the newly exposed chamber.

“Lambda,” Elenore slowly said, beating the anger of her father. “What did you just do?”

“I opened the door and locked it,” he said with his back to her. “That way when we get the power back on, it doesn't close on somebody.”

“Wait,” Theodore said, his anger at Lambda's blatant disregard for archaeological protocol fading. “What do you mean by 'power?'”

“We need to see if we can get the backup generators online,” Lambda answered with disinterest. “That way we get access to the deeper parts of the base.”

Lambda looked into the newly opened room and summoned one of his long-wands into his hands before slowly making his way forward.

“I honestly never thought I be back here.”

“'Be back here?!?'” Anthony said, nearly hyperventilating. “What did you mean by...”

Anthony charged forward to follow Lambda, but froze when he entered the room ahead.

“Anthony? What's the problem?” Miranda ran forward, and she too stopped cold in her tracks.

“What? What?” Theodore said, his patience wearing thin. “What do you – oh.”

Pushing forward, Theodore found the reason why the two stopped. The room was a hallway, and spread at regular intervals were large, shield-like objects, similarly damaged like the wall with the door. Spread across the floor were several, armored bodies.

“Hey,” Al whispered. “Don't you think the armor on these bodies looks like...?”

“Lambda,” Elenore answered.

Epilogue

“Lord Hitchcock!”

Mikhail practically knocked down the door, frantic.

“Lord Hitchcock!”

“Calm down, brother,” said the angelic man as he turned to face Mikhail. “And didn't I tell you not to call me 'lord?'”

“I'm sorry lor-”

“Mikhail,” Hitchcock said patiently. “Stop and breathe, okay? Breathe.”

Mikhail paused to do as he was told, taking in deep breaths to calm himself down.

“Good, good. Now, what was so important that you had to rush in here like a bull?”

“Apologies, lo- ah, Hitchcock. But there is a potential threat to our operations.”

“And that is...?”

“A human,” Mikhail spat. “Known as 'Lambda.' He has already foiled the plot with the hell-octopus.”

“So that was him, eh?” Hitchcock replied with almost disinterest. “I have already factored him into my plans, but is there anything else that you might know? Just tell me anyway, even if you think I already know it.”

“Well sir, he is the familiar of Elenore Redwing, daughter of Sir Theodore Redwing, current head of the Redwing house.”

“Wait,” Hitchcock said, seriousness dripping into his voice. “You said his master is the daughter of Theodore Redwing?”

“Yes, Hitchcock.”

“Hmmm...” Hitchcock muttered as he held his chin in thought. “Well, I suppose it shall work itself out.”

“Hitchcock?”

“Don't worry about it!” Hitchcock said, his friendly veneer returning. “Just go about doing the tasks I gave you. I'll have someone deal with this 'Lambda.'”

“Understood, my lo-ah, Hitchcock.”

Hitchcock watched with a smile on his face as Mikhail left the room. Once the door was closed, he turned around, his face dropping into a frown.

“I suppose I can make this work; yes, yes I can. Both outcomes will work. I just need to move a few pieces differently from now on...”