The Pale War

by Max Jager

  Alerius and Aurela got out first. Rock and Eva followed close behind. When they were out; the big, high ranking hound closed the door and stayed by the vehicle. It looked like it was ready to kill something right then and there.

  Alerius was still trying to get Aurela to tell him what the last thing Rock had said. She was very beside herself. What she had heard was damaging to her ears and her hopes. Alerius wondered what could have been so bad.

  They were heading towards a very large building. A high castle looking building. It looked like a medieval castle but it was made out of steel and glass. It had etched, bolted metal which looked somewhat like steel bricks. The glass was the same kind of stained-glass used in churches. The building looked like an old-world fortress made with modern day material. It was quite a sight to behold! It was just as impressive as the calsins' small city except this was even more wondrous because of the pure fact it was bigger and more inspired by ancient human architecture.

  It had about eight towers and each had heavy AA (Anti-Air) gun emplacements with spotters. There were other places in the building that had balconies. On these balconies were hound soldiers armed with high-powered guns and about five were on each balcony. Next to the balconies were man sized holes that had a Gatlin gun sticking out of it.

  Alerius and Aurela were about to come upon the entrance to this magnificent structure when he stopped and grabbed Aurela. He pointed at Rock behind him and they stopped too. Alerius then almost began yelling in her face! "What did he say? Tell me right now!"

  Aurela looked at Alerius with hurt in her eyes and she crumpled up like a dry leaf in his grip. "it's the Viseus Pyramid, Firius! Its been…"

  Alerius eyes were wide with fear! "What? Destroyed?"

  Aurela looked back up at him with tears in her eyes. "Taken over!"

  Alerius let go of her and sighed with a sense of both regret and relieve. He did regret that he hadn't made it in time to Hogarth but he was relieved that the Pyramid still stood. "At least its still standing."

  Aurela just lowered her head. "Might as well be destroyed. He said there's a good 500 hellions out there!"

  Alerius looked off to his right, past Aurela. He was sort of taking in the moment. He had faced extreme odds before. However, nothing that overwhelming before. His thoughts turned to his skills and the mental anguish he had taken over the past several days. Would he be able to retake the Viseus Pyramid? Before Aurela had entered his life, 500 would have been difficult to get through. Now, he felt as though it would be impossible.

  Aurela spoke again. "There's more on their way too."

  Alerius walked past Aurela in the direction he was looking. He was wondering how he was going to get her out there without getting her killed? '500 or more hellions strong with more coming soon? Good God, what the hell am I suppose to do?' Alerius thought to himself.

  General Rock took a step towards Alerius and extended his arm toward the castle. He growled a bit and Aurela translated. "He wants us to go inside."

  Another growl from Rock. Alerius looked at Rock with hopeless eyes and then directed them to Aurela.

  "He'll explain more inside." Aurela said.

  Alerius turned his gaze back to Rock and this time it was a more ferocious look. "He'd better!"

  Alerius wasn't really mad at anybody, he was just upset at the whole situation. He turned and walked towards the doors. Aurela followed behind along with Rock and Eva.

  Two big metal doors stood in Alerius's way along with about ten hounds all armed with guns guarding the entrance. They stood tall and didn't look like they were going to let him pass. General Rock just made a slight hand gesture and they all backed down. The two big doors opened with absolutely no effort from Alerius. He took a slight breath as he entered the castle. Aurela, Rock, and Eva followed him in.

  Inside Alerius was greeted by a beautiful sight. A huge palace area with lots of diamond furniture. Alerius stopped for a moment to admire it. He saw about twenty feet in front of him was a small living space. A diamond loveseat with a huge screen in the wall ahead of that. To the right and left of the loveseat were round diamond tables. Alerius figured that the tables were used for more then just sitting things down on. All the furniture was okren made so it definitely had some surprises to it.

  To Alerius's immediate left was a small room. He took a few steps in that direction to admire it. In this room was this huge diamond dinner table with about fifteen diamond dinner chairs. On the table was lots of food. Alerius really hadn't eaten since getting off planet Whitmore. He was pretty hungry. He wasn't going to eat it though unless he was invited to.

  Rock and Eva passed him and directed him deeper into the building. Alerius walked in that direction followed by Aurela. All four of them went down a few hallways and went through about four rooms. Passing by about ten rooms as well. They were guided up about five flights of stairs and guided through three more rooms before finally coming to the room Rock wanted them in. (Eva left them on the third flight. Probably to go to her room but Alerius nor Aurela asked where she had gone. They only assumed.)

  The room was a very high-tech looking place. There were hounds all over the place working with computers and other consoles. It reminded Alerius somewhat of the control room from the Osiris. In the middle of the room, was this huge metal table with this screen built into the top. It was a holographic display but it was an older model. Not as up-to-date as the one aboard the Osiris. This one showed you the display inside the screen and not above it.

  Alerius, Aurela, and Rock all walked over to it after being guided over to it by some unknown hound soldier. When all of them were close to the holograph table, the unknown soldier pushed a button on the table that was encased in metal. Nothing happen. He pushed it again and finally a display came on inside the table. A 3-D display of the Viseus Pyramid.

  The unknown hound was dismissed by Rock as Alerius and Aurela both peered at the screen. The Pyramid was a rough blueprint of itself made up of only crisscrossing lines in a 3-D triangular shape, colored yellow. There were about 300 or so small dots around it. Making a loose wall to the right of The Pyramid in red. Outlined in green lines that crisscrossed was the terrain The Pyramid was on which looked flat with one hill. The hill was clear to the right side of the table.

  Rock pointed to the hill, The Pyramid, and the 300 dots in front of it. Each time he pointed, a different sound came from him. Aurela re-checked with Rock to make sure of what she was about to translate. "The yellow triangle is The Viseus Pyramid."

  Alerius looked at her with a cocked brow. "I know."

  "This green stuff is the land its on and this is Viseus Hill."

  Alerius shook his head not really caring. "What are the red dots?"

  Aurela looked at them and not looking back at Alerius said, "Hellion troops."

  "I thought so."

  Rock growled out a lot and every once in awhile threw out a bark.

  "He said that they first arrived about a week ago. They landed about a mile from The Pyramid and crushed most of the wild garrisons along the way."

  Alerius knew that wild garrisons were a squad of Wild hounds. Trained just as Dark had been to survive and kill just like a wild animal. The equivalent of special forces for the hounds. Like Dark, some were trained to be loners. Some though were trained to hunt in packs like wild wolves. Wild garrisons.

  More growling and a bark from Rock.

  "He believes that some may be left alive but not even they, with all their training, could have easily survived an onslaught like that!"

  Rock continued on and Aurela continued to translate.

  "When the hellions got to The Pyramid they were met by a hundred strong regular soldiers. The soldiers put up a valiant fight but in the end the 500 some odd forces were too much."

  Alerius interrupted. "Now, wait a minute, where's the other 200 Rock? There's only 300 shown here."

  Aurela asked and Rock answered.

  "He says that the other two hundred left The Pyramid about
five days ago. They went off into the wilderness. He assumes that they went back to radio in support."

  Rock went on and so did Aurela. "He says, he figures, that the hellions are ready to finally launch a massive invasion on Hogarth. Just like the one on Planet Reign. Which is still under attack. While most of the human forces are there protecting that planet; Hogarth is left unguarded. Open like a gate ready for the onslaught. He says that without human support or any kind of help whatsoever; they could lose Planet Hogarth in less then a year!

  He doesn't know why they picked the Viseus Pyramid as a base of operations but his intelligence gathers that they knew we were coming Firius. He says that if it wasn't for us coming to Hogarth they might have not felt the need to attack."

  Alerius was irritated by this. "So what? We're the cause of this invasion?"

  Aurela was speaking for herself now. "No! He's not blaming us! I think they would have found a way to attack one way or another, dear."

  Alerius looked at her with this shocked and angry look. "Don't ever call me that again!"

  Aurela took a few steps back from Alerius and was very hurt by his reaction to her kindness. She knew she shouldn't have been but she still couldn't get over the fact that he wasn't excepting her love.

  Alerius calmed down and went back to his normal tone asking Aurela, "So, how in the hell are we suppose to get you inside The Pyramid?"

  Aurela asked Rock and Rock replied.

  "He says that's where you come in."

  Alerius moaned a little bit with aggravation.

  Rock went on with Aurela translating. "He says that even if a fifth of the forces are destroyed he figures that maybe he could give us enough time to go into The Pyramid and do…whatever it is we need to do."

  Alerius looked down at the ground thinking. He wondered if he could go through a fifth of a 300 strong force! He had never face that many enemies all at once before! Even at a fifth of the force that was still about eighty or so enemies! He figured though that neither one of them had a choice. It had to be done otherwise Aurela would never realize her true potential.

  Alerius had hoped that once he had gotten Aurela on planet Hogarth that she would finally be safe; that she would finally be out of his life! Even though he wanted everything except that. Alerius was so confused right now he didn't know what to do. He wanted nothing more to do with this mission and yet he wanted everything to do with Aurela. He was about to suffer a nervous breakdown! He couldn't take it. Not wanting anything more to do with her and yet wanting her in the worse way. To stay with her for all time. He did love her. He just hated his love for her.

  Suddenly, the unknown soldier hound that had turned on the table began howling out from his console. All three of them rushed over to where he was. On his own console was a radar screen and it showed a massive blip with about twenty or thirty blips behind it. Rock and the unknown soldier growled at each other until Rock told Aurela what was going on.

  "Oh my!" Was all Aurela could utter out.

  Alerius was dying to know what was going on and Aurela obliged him. "It's The Flaming Meteorite! He's coming Firius!"

  Alerius eyes widen with fear and he focused his gaze on the screen.

  Aurela continued on with her interpretation. "They said it won't be long now! About Forty-five minutes!" Aurela then spoke her mind. "Why is he coming Firius? Why here?"

  Alerius knew exactly why. "Because he knows you're here Aurela! He's going to do here what he did to Scalobore!"

  Aurela's voice filled with sorrow and fear! "What are we going to do? We can't let that happen again! We just can't! Please Firius, we have got to do something!"

  Alerius stood tall behind the unknown soldier and looked at Rock. "We need to get to the Viseus Pyramid! Now!"

  He's Coming

  Soren sat cold and silent in the driver seat of the ship while Yellow Korzen slept soundly. The soldier looked over at Yellow Korzen and thought to himself, 'Look at him! Sleeping so softly over there. Makes me sick! To think this man was once universally renowned for his good deeds. Now look at him! Working for the hellion forces like they were the ones right all along! Traitorous pig! It almost frightens me how quickly he'd kill me! Probably just over there dreaming of ways to dismember me! I have got to get out of here! If I don't I surely will die! Hopefully on Hogarth…'

  Korzen stirred a bit and rolled onto his other side.

  'Can he hear my thoughts? Can this rogue read my mind? I mean, I know they have powers but I don't think scanning is one of them. Is it? I hope not because I'm really dead now if he can! Maybe I should just shut-up. How in the hell am I even suppose to do that? Stop thinking? Is that even possible? Why am I even wasting time worrying about that? I should be worrying about how to get out of this situation! It would definitely…'

  Korzen stirred again, this time actually waking up. His eyes fluttered and soon he was wide-eyed and conscious. "Where are we?" He asked.

  Soren just groaned. "Where about forty minutes from Hogarth. Maybe you should get some rest." Then the soldier thought to himself, 'Six feet under!'

  Korzen looked at Soren and then back to space. "We need to hurry."

  "This things going about as fast as it can!"

  "He's coming."

  "Who?"

  "Never mind! You just worry about getting to Hogarth and I mean now!"

  The soldier just groaned again and kept silent.

  Korzen could feel the Flaming Meteorite's presence. He knew that he was close. Korzen had to get there before he did. He just had to! Otherwise, he wouldn't get to finish off The Red Firius himself. No way was he going to let Flaming finish off his kill. Firius was his and nobody else's! Firius was going to die and Korzen was going to make sure he did. Even if he had to die himself to do it!

  Planet Hogarth: The Viseus Pyramid

  Alerius, Aurela, and Rock all left the castle along with about twenty soldiers all armed with assault rifles. In front of the castle they were welcomed by several of the caged hummers like the one they had arrived in. These though were not rusted nor seemed to be in bad shape. They looked like they had been well taken care of by the previous owner or they were brand new.

  The twenty other soldiers got into several of the ones behind the front. Rock, Aurela, and Alerius got in the front one. All of them then took off like an armored train. The hummers went down a few side streets and then made a sharp left turn into the wilderness. The hummers bounced and shook violently as if they were driving over tectonic plates. The real reason why they were shaking so bad was because they were going so fast over the landscape. They were running over trees and hitting bumps at about seventy miles an hour!

  Soon, all of them were atop Viseus Hill! All of them got out. Rock, Aurela, and Alerius led the pack. Alerius could barely see the forces until Rock handed him a pair of binoculars. He looked down onto the wide open field that The Pyramid sat on and Alerius could only be mystified at the number of forces. He removed the binoculars very slowly and in a very stern voice said, "There's a lot more then 300 down there!"

  Aurela translated to Rock and Rock snatched the binoculars away from Alerius. Rock looked through them and Alerius heard a small whine come from him. Aurela was about to translate when Alerius stopped her. He threw his hand up in her face and said, "I know, I'm right."

  Aurela just looked at him. He noticed too.

  Another whine came from Rock. This one wasn't as loud nor shrill. Aurela translated. "He says there's about 800 down there now."

  Alerius cocked his head a bit and looked down at the immense force. "At least."

  Rock again made some more noise and Aurela quickly translated. "He doesn't know how they got there?"

  "I'll tell you how. They probably landed the same place the 500 did. With 300 here guarding The Pyramid and the other 200 off somewhere in the woods hunting down the last of the Wild forces. It was much easier for the support to come in. They made better time without any garrisons to worry about. They probably came in right under you
r noses this morning."

  Aurela told all this to Rock and Rock agreed with Alerius's logic.

  "Which makes it all the more 'fun' to try and get you into that pyramid. Damn!" Alerius said.

  Rock barked and growled. Aurela again spoke for him. "He says he can't send in forces to back us up. He can't risk one soldier with The Flaming Meteorite on the way."

  Alerius coked his right eyebrow. "Well, he's right. Charging through all of those sons-of-Hell is the only way to get you to that pyramid."

  Alerius suddenly squinted his eyes and saw several metallic sparkles all over the battlefield. It was like small pieces of glass sparkling among grains of sand. Alerius asked for the binoculars back. Aurela translated for Rock and Rock handed them over. Alerius put them quickly up to his eyes and focused in on the shimmers. When he saw what made them, he lowered the binoculars slowly and blurted out, "Ah damn it!"