Page 152 of Tapeworld Induction

“Well, wouldn’t you? Tell me!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the vast flatland.

For a year she’d manipulated him into the bottom of a pit. And if she had asked him the same question a month ago, he might even have considered it. But it was different now. There were people in the real world who actually cared for him. Who would miss him if he disappeared. Who made him feel like he was more than just an outcast, a criminal.

“No,” he said finally. “Keep your lies. I’ll keep limping along.” He smiled at the thought of her. “Dylan.”

A red light in the distant towers shifted blue.

“You fucking fool!” Astrid hissed. “I wanted you, Isaak. Until you quit on me like the simpering dog you are. I could have made you my Tech King. But you’ve made your choice.”

She raised her hand high, claws extending out from her fingers.

Isaak winced, ready for her strike, fighting the instinct to look away. Come what may.

BOOM.

A jagged line cracked the ground between him and Astrid and an explosion knocked him over. Rubble flew in all directions.

“What is this?” Astrid swung around, hovering in the air.

A figure flew out through the cracked tarmac, landing next to Isaak. A woman dressed in white, blonde-and-blue-dyed hair.

“Are you okay?”

Relief emptied all the air from his chest. “What took you so long?”

“Traffic.” Dylan smirked.

“Little help?” He motioned with his chin to the tape binding him to the chair.

Dylan leant close to Isaak.

“Gunkatana!” The blade summoned in her right hand. She sliced through the tape tendrils. “Here.” She handed him the weapon with a smile.

“How are you able to summon that sword?!” Astrid hovered some distance from them, her recklessness temporarily checked by what seemed like genuine surprise.

“Gunky at your service…”

“Look threatening, Gunky! Dee, look out!” Isaak shouted, rolling to the side.

Astrid let out a scream and flew towards them, her fingernails still claw-length. Dylan rolled away, and Astrid swiped only at air.

“I’m ecstatic that you’ve joined us, love!” Astrid’s eyes were bloodshot, nearly pure red.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Dylan planted one foot in front of the other, arms up in guard, one hand closer to her face, the white knuckle-dusters protecting her fists.

Isaak leapt toward Astrid, the Gunkatana in his hands. He slashed at her side, slicing into her thigh below the red metal armour. A torrent of black light burst from the wound and she shouted.

“Worm!”

Isaak landed, spat on the floor, and raised the Gunkatana again, tip pointed at Astrid.

“You can’t use that sword! That’s Third Kingdom’s, you fool!” Her voice was a caustic phlegm. “The Book King will find us!” She rushed at him, hand open, claws out.

Dylan leaned into the Apocalypse Revolt combat form, then ran at Astrid and hit her with a low kick, pushing her away from Isaak.

She hovered further from them, keeping her distance for now.

Isaak’s pulse raced. More lights on the horizon flashed from red to blue, electric energy crackling through them. Isaak aimed the Gunkatana at Astrid. “Let Talia go!”