I. Nasty Climb
The truck could only get them so far. Zeta-1, the magnet place, sat way up in the badlands - a place known for bad weather even before things went haywire.
The team hid the truck in a ditch and started hiking. It was steep, rocky, and foggy.
Anya, who kept the group together, went first, using her skills and old climbing stuff. Valen and Raya came next, lugging most of the gear and the Fragment Tracker.
Garth and Elara were in the back. Elara moved without getting tired. Garth was in pain, though.
The height plus the facility's magnetic field messed with him. The iron thing he had wasn't helping against the Fragment.
YOUR SPEED IS DOWN. THE MAGNETS ARE MESSING WITH YOU. WE NEED TO FIX THIS, Elara said.
I can feel the Fragment, Elara, Garth said, leaning on a rock. It's pulling me. It's trying to change the metal in my suit.
He's almost done for, machine, Raya yelled. If you're so smart, help him with the pain.
PAIN IS BAD. TO FIX IT, I NEED SOMETHING BIGGER TO FIGHT IT. I CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT HURTING HIM, Elara said. SO… A QUICK FIX IS NEEDED.
II. Compass Mess
Elara looked on the ground and found some old radio wire.
GARTH, WE NEED TO MESS UP YOUR ARM AGAIN. THE IRON ISN'T ENOUGH. WE'LL USE THIS WIRE, Elara said.
She twisted the wire into a weird shape, putting a cheap compass in the middle.
The compass is perfect, Garth realized. The magnet is set.
YES. THE WIRE AND THE COMPASS, WITH YOUR CRAZY ENERGY, WILL MESS THINGS UP. IT'LL BLOCK THE MAGNETIC PULL, Elara said.
She put the wire thing on his arm. It helped a lot. The strong pull became a small buzz. It was a simple fix using junk.
I can move, Garth said. You're keeping me alive with trash and math.
I'M HELPING THE MISSION. YOU'RE NEEDED TO MAKE CHAOS, Elara said.
III. Warlord Warning
As they climbed, the Tracker picked up problems ahead.
We got company, Valen said, looking through his broken binoculars. Up ahead, a lookout post.
It was Jax's guys, wearing winter clothes. They were watching since the mine fell.
They lived, Anya said, tying a rope. Jax wants this place. He knows the magnets are valuable.
We can't use a chaos blast. Everyone will come, Garth said.
THE WARLORDS ARE USING OLD RADIOS. WE CAN GET IN. WE'LL USE THE FRAGMENT'S WHISPER, Elara said.
Elara opened the box a little. The Fragments fought against the box. She touched the box, using the Logic Fragment's data.
WE'LL SEND A FAKE COMMAND. IT'LL MAKE SENSE, SO THEY'LL HAVE TO LISTEN, Elara said.
Raya set up a small radio. Elara sent the signal - the Logic of Compliance - over the Warlord's frequency.
Anya watched the post. A few minutes later, the soldiers moved. They didn't run or attack. They left, walking toward a dangerous landslide. They followed the command: GO GET RESOURCES AT BETA-2, EIGHT DEGREES EAST.
Beta-2 was far away, empty. The Warlords had to follow the fake goal, clearing the way for the team.
IV. Almost There
The trick bought them time. They climbed near the last ridge. Below was Zeta-1, the magnet place.
It was a mess of ruins, cranes, and vats. The air buzzed with magnets. Metal stuff floated in the air, held by the Fragment.
The Tracker screamed, its light bright blue.
It's here, Garth said, his arm hurting. The last one.
Elara pointed to the big vat.
THE FRAGMENT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VAT. IT'S USING METAL TO MAKE A BIG MAGNETIC FIELD. IF IT FINISHES, WE CAN'T STOP IT, Elara warned.
And Jax will be here soon, Anya said, pointing to tracks on the road. We need to hurry.
Garth looked at the floating junk and his arm. He knew the last Chaos blast would take everything he had - possibly his life.