Surau
is one of the villains in Shakazhan, though he doesn't meet
his end until The Maker. I was going to share that moment, but
decided that if you want to know what happens to him, you'll need to
read the book.
After
Riley's demise in Shakazhan, Surau is imprisoned, guarded by
the Sentience's sentinals. Unfortunately, when they shut off the
planet's systems in order to reboot the Sentience's programming, they
don't figure on the fact that this will shut down her robot guards as
well.
The
Sentience coalesced and shimmered by their side, holding her hands as
if she were blessing them all. More cheering followed. In the back
ground, Wil heard a disturbing sound. He could tell Marc heard it
too. An alarm howled down one of the tunnels. A sentinel, calling for
help from its comrades.
"Quiet!"
Wil roared in his battlefield voice.
Silence
fell immediately. When everyone heard the alarm, panic set in.
Sentience listened to a report, her brow furrowing in a very human
way. "The prisoner has escaped!"
"Surau?
But how could he?" Wil couldn't believe it.
"I
didn't realize the sentinels would also turn off when the reboot
came. He's gotten free! We have to find him!" Sentience cried.
"Matilda,
you stay here, Marc and I can get him," Wil cautioned.
"No,
I have to go, you need me!"
Wil
didn't have time to argue. He, Marc, Matilda and Ben set off at a
dead run. Ray and the Cats did their best to control the crowd,
herding the people out of the cavern and back to the teleporters.
Having
no gun, Matilda thought of her sword and dagger, but running with
bladed weapons was foolish. She just pulled up her skirt and ran,
kicking off her high heeled shoes. She still had her claws, that
would have to do for now.
They
arrived at Surau's lab, breathless and anxious. The sentinel shut off
its alarm as soon as it saw them coming. It led them down the hall
and then off to the right, along an unfamiliar tunnel.
"Where
are we going?" Wil demanded.
The
sentinel didn't respond.
"I
asked a question"
It
said nothing, just indicated they should follow it.
"It
could be a trap, Wil." Marc's frown deepened.
"I'm
aware of that, but we have to take the chance. If he gets too far, we
may never get him back. There's no telling what he's capable of."
Marc
and Ben nodded resignedly, not liking it, but liking the alternatives
less.
Wil
took point, Matilda falling into place slightly behind and right of
him. Marc came in next to her on the left and Ben brought up the
rear. The area was fairly clear, but they soon found the going
harder. With damaged floors and walls partially caved in, the path
got rough. Matilda regretted removing her shoes, but there was no
going back for them. She ordered her Kindred suit to protect her feet
and picked her way carefully.
They
came to a junction. A stone tunnel lay to the left and a metal
passage to their right. Ahead of them was a blank wall of dirt and
debris where the stone tunnel had caved in. Wil started left, his
decision confirmed by the sentinel.
Having
no knowledge of what lay ahead, Wil did a quick recon. The others
waited several feet behind him. Matilda was in a panic the entire
time he was gone, but he returned in a few minutes. He moved quickly,
a silent blur and he stood beside her. Using hand signals, he told
them the way was clear, no branching passages.
When
they reached the next junction, he sent the sentinel down to check
one passage, while he went down the other. Again, one of them was
blocked. The sentinel scurried back to their position and Wil came up
shortly after.
"Nothing,"
he signaled. "We've lost him."
The
sentinel flashed its lights, flying to the other passage, then back
to their position. Frowning, Wil hesitated. Marc set off after the
sentinel. Wil followed, Matilda right behind him, with Ben in the
rear. The sentinel stopped about ten feet ahead of them, at a
branching tunnel.
Marc
approached cautiously, weapon ready. A quick glance left and right,
he stepped back toward them, still facing the tunnels. He shrugged,
unsure of which way to go.
The
blank wall in front of them exploded outward, hurling them back.
Surau had hidden himself in the partially collapsed wall. He leapt at
them, giant scorpion tail up and threatening to strike. In the
confined space, he couldn't use his most deadly weapon, but his tusks
and talons did well enough.
Bellowing
loudly, Surau rushed them, forcing them back. Matilda took a swipe at
him with her claws, but they glanced off his hide and one of them
tangled briefly in his tusks. Red eyes glittered with insanity, as he
lowered his head to charge.
ASIN:
B071HH7CK8
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