Tariq sent the coordinates to the location at around 10pm. The message was a simple string of numbers that pointed to the outskirts of Geneva where the city bled into forested hills and dirt roads.
Eirik took one of his off road cars just in case the road got rough.
By the time he reached the gravel pull off it was nearly midnight. A lone figure stood under a flickering street lamp, hands in pockets, coat stirring gently in the wind.
"You're late" Tariq said as Eirik pulled the car beside him.
Eirik killed the engine and stepped out. "Like I said, I'm never late. You're just always early"
Tariq gave him a smile.
"What now?" Eirik asked walking up to him.
"We wait." Tariq replied "Pick up should be arriving soon"
The silence that followed as they waited wasn't uncomfortable. These were the quiet stretches they'd always fall into before missions. Each of them lost in their own thoughts.
Ten minutes later a black SUV with tinted windows rolled into view, its headlights cutting clear arcs through the trees. The vehicle slowed, idled then came to a halt just a few feet away from them.
The side door slid open and awoman stepped out. She was tall, dark haired and dressed in tactical gear with a long overcoat.
"Mr Vollen, Mr Aman" she said.
Both men nodded and without another word she gestured for them to get in. The drive took just under an hour to get to their destination, the SUV gliding through remote roads and winding passes.
The silence inside the vehicle was absolute. There was no small tall, no radio, no sound but the faint hum of the engine.
The woman said nothing else, and neither pushed her for answers as they knew they would eventually be briefed on site.
Eventually the SUV slowed as they approached what looked like an abandoned logistics compound nestled against a ridge with iron gates manned by more guards than either of them had expected to see.
Tariq let out a low whistle " That's a lot of security." Eirik silently agreed.
The vehicle passed through the gates after a brief scan. Inside the compound was like a beehive with dozens of operatives moving around with clear purpose. Some secured crates, testing comms, prepping armored vehicles and the like.
The driver parked the vehicle near one of the central buildings. The woman stepped out and gestured for them to follow.
Inside the hallways it smelled of cold metal and ozone. Enchantment residue Eirik noted, the place was heavily laced with protective wards.
She led them to a briefing room, where a man in tactical gear as well was waiting.
As they approached he looked up from the maps he was viewingthe expression on his face unreadable.
"Gentlemen" He said as looked at them "I am Commander Alric Kessler and I will be overseeing this operation"
No handshakes.
The room behind him had already began to fill in with people, most wearing tactical gear. Eirik noticed most if not all were lykans.
"The mission is quite simple and straightforward" Alric began as he paced infront of a holographic projection.
"We will be transporting a high value cargo from this site to a classified location in Eastern Europe"
The map lit up behind him highlighting the route. The convoy will consist of two armored vehicles infront and behind with he primary transport unit in the center"
"And what exactly are we transporting?" Someone asked.
"That is not your concern. Your job is to ensure that the cargo reaches its destination safely and without incident" he replied.
"Then why not fly it out?" A woman this time "Driving across Europe given the value of this operation is reckless. Wouldn't flying be much safer and faster?"
A wave of murmurs passed through the room. The woman clearly having voiced a logical question that was on everyone's mind. Alric's expression didn't shift, but the tone in his voice deepend.
"Because it is not meant to be above ground"
A beat followed.
"The runes that keep it contained draw power from ley lines, ancient ones that run underneath the old world, hence the route we are to follow. If we take to the skies we risk severing that connection thus weakening the containment unit which is not something we want"
Tariq lifted a brow "So the containment unit is magically tethered?"
Alric nodded "The container draws its strength from these ley lines. The containment wards are only stable within the proximity of these lines. The further we stray, the weaker they get. And if they break....."
Erik finished the sentence. "Whatever's inside gets free."
"Precisely Mr Vollen, so our only option is to drive. Any more questions?" Alric asked as he scanned the room.
There were a couple of murmurs across the room but no further questions were raised.
Erik leaned slightly forward toward Tariq. "Still think this is just a standard job?"
Tariq's eyes remained on the screen mapping the route.
"Not for a second."
Alric continued "You'll each be assigned to a team. Vollen, Aman, Lévesque and Varga, you'll be with me directly under the cargo transport."
The woman who had first arrived with Erik and Tariq stepped forward.
"Follow me," she said "I'll take you to the containment bay."
Erik fell into step beside her. "You never told us your name."
She gave him a sideways glance.
"Commander Lira Voss."
"I thought I recognised you" The lykan beside them said whom Eirik assumed to be Varga.
Tariq glanced back at him. "You know her?"
Darius Varga snorted. "Heard of her, Voss the Viper, cleaned out an entire den of skinwalkers up north by herself. She's got a reputation for getting things done and leaving a trail of bodies behind."
"I prefer the term efficient." she replied.
They descended two levels, the fluorescent lights above flickering once before stabilizing. The air grew cooler and heavier as the hum of engines and machinery intensified.
Reinforced doors parted with a hydraulic hiss finally revealing the containment chamber.
Inside, a massive obsidian monolith sat in the heart of the chamber. Matte black, its surface shimmered subtly not with light but with the absence of it.
Sera Lévesque stopped in her tracks.
"Is that...a...a null box?" she breathed, eyes wide. Tariq stepped forward, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"A fully active null box, I thought only high circles kept those." he said clearly not expecting to see one especially not in the possession of Lykans.
Lira turned to them "We are borrowing this one for the transport. What's inside has been deemed too powerful and dangerous to be transported any other way. Miss Lévesque and Mr Aman, you are to reinforce the null box with your magic, we aren't taking any chances."
Erik raised a brow "To add more magic to a null box, surely whatever is inside can't be that powerful. This seems a bit overkill."
"I assure you Mr Vollen," Lira said, "You have no idea how powerful it is"
Sera stepped closer her eyes scanning the runic etchings glowing faintly at the corners of the Null box.
"Some of these sequences are quite ancient, even for us" she whispered. "The layering is genius but also flawed in structure in some areas." Her pen traced a pattern, then she glanced at Tariq. "You could overlap these with an inverse binding, It'll boost the seal without triggering feedback."
Tariq raised a brow, clearly impressed. "You've studied Ye'ari matrices?"
She smiled faintly. "Specialty of mine."
They went to work with swift and fluid movements, the two witches set to their task. Fingers traced glyphs, spells fell from their lips and fresh runes flared to life across the surface of the box.
Tariq's skin began to glow, his tattoos flaring with a golden color, the air buzzed as power was drawn from the two lines feeding the containment bay to the null box field.
Darius leaned towards Erik. "If that box's contents are as strong as the shield around it then we're hauling a goddamn storm."
Eirik didn't answer for his eyes were focused on the runes etched on the surface of the Null box and whatever resided within.