Free Temple of Fire by Christopher Forrest

Sutra.”
    Ambergris broke in from the Ops Center .
    “It’s unusual for a sun god to be equated with fertility,” he said.  “In most cultures, fertility gods were lesser beings and had their own temples.”
    “It’s awfully damn hot in here,” said Shooter.
    “Ops,” said Hawkeye, “we have flames coming through cracks in the floor.  I’m also reading pockets of methane, sulfur, and other volatile elements.”
    Shooter cautiously entered the interior chamber.  “In here,” she called.  “There’s a winding stairway that leads below.”
    “We’re going to descend,” said Hawkeye as he and Madison joined Shooter.
    “I’m reading intense geologic activity down there,” said Touchdown.  “The temperature is just this side of hell.  I advise you to activate the oxygen canisters in your backpacks and take slow, steady breaths.”
    “Roger that,” said Hawkeye.
    A narrow stairway was carved directly into the stone floor of the temple.  It was dark except for an occasional red glow that illuminated the steps, as if a light was strobing somewhere beneath the main chamber.
    The team descended single file.
     

Subterranean Chamber
Temple of the Moon
     
    Will Langhorne walked into a chamber adjoining the room where he had spoken with Commander Aiko .  The space was lit with a portable light panel in the corner.
    “So I’m not the only prisoner of the Chinese,” Langhorne said affably as he approached two soldiers sitting in the corner.
    The Titan members got to their feet.
    “I’m Tank and this is Gator.  We’re part of a special ops force from Titan Global.  We were captured while doing some recon.”
    “I’ve heard of the outfit,” said Langhorne, raising his eyebrows.  “Very impressive — and very hush-hush.   I used to work in Washington for the U.S. Geological Survey.  There’s a lot of gossip in that town.  I’ve been stationed in Nevada lately and thought I’d have a look-see after the explosion.  I fell into the crater and was investigating when the Chinese knocked me out and brought me here.”
    “What do they want?” Tank asked.
    “I haven’t the faintest idea.  Couldn’t understand what they were saying.  I do know a way out of here, however, assuming we could distract our hosts.”
    Tank and Gator exchanged glances.
    “That can be arranged,” said Tank.  “If you can spring us, we’ll take you to the rest of our team.”
    “Deal,” said Langhorne.
     

Beneath the Temple of Kalpur-Az
Ruins of Raj Kithune
     
    Titan Six entered a vast underground chamber below the temple of the sun god.
    “It’s huge!” said Hawkeye.  “This space extends for fifty yards in every direction.”
    The red glow the team had seen in the stairway was the lurid glare coming from dozens of fires.  The chamber was bordered on two sides by the stone foundation of the temple above.  The other two sides were limestone and granite outcroppings.
    “The blast shattered some of the foundation,” Madison observed, pointing to the limestone and granite.  “It’s a wonder the entire temple hasn’t already collapsed.”
    A large fireball erupted from the floor twenty yards away, knocking the team to the ground.
    Madison staggered to his feet, took a black cylinder from his backpack, and planted it in a crack in the floor.  He flipped a switch on the side of the device, which came to life, lights blinking along its smooth, black surface.
    Madison nodded grimly after several minutes and then stood.
    “Touchdown was correct,” he said.  “There are pockets of gas under this temple, although a lot more than anybody suspected.  Just two hundred meters below where we’re standing, the temperature is five hundred degrees hotter than it should be.”
    “I think you guys should get over here,” said Shooter, who had moved close to one of the chamber’s limestone walls.
    Hawkeye, followed by Madison , limped to her position.  The three lay on their stomachs and peered through an